Cmdr. William Howard Donovan Jr.
I love to laugh. I love people who make me laugh. It is sad that I never got to meet Commander William Howard Donovan, Jr. Many described him as having a great sense of humor. Others described him as the kind of guy who was an optimist. The kind of guy who when given lemons, he made lemonade. He was a family man with strong family values, an excellent work ethic and strong morals who was dedicated to all things in his life, especially his family and his country.
On that day five years ago, the day that looked so beautiful with clear Blue skies and sunshine, Cmdr. Donovan was taken from all those that loved him. Many of us were witness to it, as we watched or listened to the plane hitting the Pentagon on the television or radio. I, myself, was driving my children to school and was listening to the radio where they were interviewing someone on the radio who was at the Pentagon. There was a loud explosion. It was that moment that at least began the end of Cmdr. Donovan’s life. It is incredible to me to think of it in that way.
Commander William Howard Donovan Junior, “Bill” or “Billy” to his friends, was 37 years old. He was a husband and father of three from Nunda, New York. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1986. In the first Gulf war, he was a naval aviator and after that he served as a tactical officer on the U.S.S. George Washington for two years in the mid 1990s. He was a pilot instructor and received a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Post Graduate school in California. He received many awards, among them the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals.
He was passionate about soccer and even played on a Pentagon lunchtime league. This was a passion that he passed on to his children. He must have been one hell of a Dad, because some of the most heart wrenching things that I have read about him, are messages left on various message boards by his daughter, Kelsey and her friends. There were messages left as late as February of this year, an attestment to the impression that he left on his daughter in her young life. From what I have read and seen, it seems he had that effect on many people, those whom he touched directly–his family and friends, and those whom he touched indirectly–people who knew his family and friends, those who have read about him, and me.
*The information for this tribute was gained from the following resources:
- Terrorist Attack Memorial: We Shall Never Forget
New York Times Legacy Guestbook
September 11, 2001 Victims
The New York Times: Portraits of Grief
CNN.com, September 11, A Memorial
Shipmate: USNA Memorial
To see other tributes, check out 2,996 and 2,996 Tribute.
This post will stay up here on top until Tuesday.
September 9th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Very nice tribute. thank you.
September 9th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Great tribute! His anchor is weighed in Heaven. I appreciate your tribute to a Naval Commander
Go Navy!
FTGF!
September 9th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Hey–FYI
Voting for you through Battle of the Blogs!
September 9th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
This was just beautiful, I think it’s the littlest of details that make these so heart wrenching to read. The nicknames, the children, the details that made people like William who they were, not just another name.
Cheers, Kelly
September 10th, 2006 at 1:49 am
Thank you, you’ve taken a number and made him real to me.
September 10th, 2006 at 2:20 am
Real people died that day. Not just a list of names. It is heart wrenching to go through these 2996 posts. - Thanks for doing your share in this tribute. - Thanks too for commenting on my post - Paul -
September 10th, 2006 at 3:35 am
Absolutely wonderful tribute, and very heart wrenching. I also did a tribute for 9/11 on my blog over at http://retardedrugrat.wordpress.com.
September 10th, 2006 at 5:21 am
Wonderful tribute!
September 10th, 2006 at 6:04 am
If the dead really do have contact with the living, I’m sure he liked your tribute…
I just can’t see how any human being can resort to terrorism..
They are just mislead most of them, only a small part of them are really evil, allthough its hard to think of them as anything but evil, most of them are just mislead…
September 10th, 2006 at 6:59 am
A wonderful tribute to a special man. I have done my own tribute to another victim and, like you, I shall be leaving the posting until Tuesday. It is wonderful that we have all gathered together like this to remember.
September 10th, 2006 at 7:06 am
You did a great job, sis. I’m proud of you. You did right by him.
September 10th, 2006 at 8:16 am
Shelli-You truly captured the spirit of the CMDR. His daughter misses him greatly, by her writings. Thank you for the tribute.
I did a blog on Claudia Suzette Sutton. She was a beautiful and inspiring lady. http://claudiasuzettesutton.blogspot.com/
My fiance and I share a blog together, and he did his tribute to Sara Elizabeth Low. It is here: http://ebyzandgunz.blogspot.com/
September 10th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Very beautiful…..you did a wonderful job of humanizing the commander with your tribute
September 10th, 2006 at 10:09 am
A very beautiful tribute to the CDR. A life taken at such a young age.
I’m up too.
September 10th, 2006 at 10:26 am
What a wonderful tribute. It is so sad that we lost so many wonderful people that day.
Mines up too!
September 10th, 2006 at 10:57 am
This was so well written, I feel like I really got to know him. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job with the tribute.
September 10th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
A wonderful tribute. How sad that such a vital man and his laughter be cut off so early in life. Well done Shelli.
September 10th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
I have learned so many wonderful things about the victims of 9/11. It was an honor to post and read the blogs that have written a tribute to all the victims of 9/11.
Have a great day.
September 10th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
This was beautiful. Loved the part about his family and sports interests. I did one too…
beofre I got started, I knew these people had lives and families and all, but when you really start investigating, it’s like an epiphany…These people really had lives and people who loved them and depended on them.
September 10th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Another great memorial post Shelli!
September 10th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
beautiful tribute and so very well written.
mine is here: http://jedisue.blogspot.com
September 10th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Thank you for posting about the life lived and the joy in his family. Wonderful tribute to a fallen hero.
Please stop by my tribute for Gilbert and leave a link and comment so that others can come here to read.
September 10th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
From reading your beatiful tribute, Bill was an awesome husband & father. It’s heartbreaking reading all these tributes.
My tribute is up too. http://growing-up-by-faith.blogspot.com
September 10th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Very nice Shelli….I have posted mine also.
September 10th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
You have honored Commander William Howard Donovan, Jr with a wonderful, heart-touching tribute. Thank you.
September 10th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
A wonderful tribute
Thank you.
September 10th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
What a wonderful tribute. Thank you for letting me get to know him. My tribute can be found here here
September 10th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
I know you would have made him proud. God bless his soul and those of the others. I find I’m going to have to just read a few at the time, as someone else said it is so truly sad. I’m glad though that the blog world got together like this - we are all united in this special way.
September 10th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Very nice tribute - I would have loved to have met him too, I think.
September 10th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Beautiful Tribute!
It is amazing how much it changed me by participating. I am trying to read as many of them as I can. We certainly lost some beautiful souls that day.
I invite you to read about Major Dwayne Williams who died at the Pentagon.
September 10th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Thankyou.
September 10th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
What a moving tribute! He sounds a lot like my Dad, and I’m sure he is missed.
What a loss.
I Remember Anna Williams Allison.
September 10th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
that was wonderful. thank you.
September 10th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Thank you. This has been a moving experience.
September 10th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Yet another I didn’t make it through without tears. Another military man, lost in these horrid acts of war. As a military family, we salute him. We salute his family.
September 10th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
I am starting my journey to try and read all 2996 tributes. Yours was a beautiful step along the way. Thank You.
September 11th, 2006 at 1:31 am
Billy sounds like a great guy. Thankyou!
September 11th, 2006 at 1:59 am
Very nice tribute. Sounds like a terrific guy. I found myself wishing I could have met Harry Ramos, who I researched and wrote about.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:56 am
What a remarkable man. Thank you, Shelli, for telling us about him. I also have a memorial post up, if you’d like to read it.
September 11th, 2006 at 5:58 am
wonderfully composed.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:08 am
What a wonderful tribute. I too was in the military that day; my huaband and I were both Army soldiers stationed not far from Cmdr Donovan. My husband still is, deployed in Afghanistan. We have lost so many friends and colleagues that day and in the years since. But I have to look at this day with some joy, because it is also my son’s 14th birthday and I honor his life. And his name? Donovan. I will certainly be thinking of Cmdr Donovan today as I honor my Donovan. Thank you!
September 11th, 2006 at 7:45 am
tribute to 911 victim stephen russell
The 2,996 Project is a simple but powerful project aimed to create a tribute to each victim of 9/11 individually, with each tribute being created by a different weblog. I am proud to be a contributing weblog in this…
September 11th, 2006 at 7:59 am
another beautiful story of another beautiful soul..thank you for sharing his..May he and the rest of those souls rest in peace.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:07 am
Awesome job on the tribute Shelli….
September 11th, 2006 at 8:11 am
Thank you for the moving tribute. I think the smile in that photo really captures what you wrote of his personality, too.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:14 am
Very well done. Thank you.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:14 am
Beautiful tribute, Shelli. May he rest in peace, and may his family have comfort and strength today.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:18 am
He sounded like an amazing father and friend. Excellent tribute!
September 11th, 2006 at 8:25 am
A beutiful Tribute. Thank you for letting us get to “know” William through your words. WE will never forget them all. Please check out my tribute to Mary Jane Booth.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:30 am
A beautiful tribute….to a wonderful man. I’m a Navy Wife and those that lost their lives at the Pentagon hold a special place in my heart for that reason alone. Thank you for sharing ths man’s life with us all. I’m honoring John A. Hofer I hope you’ll come by to meet him! *Blessings*
September 11th, 2006 at 8:32 am
Thanks for your addition. The project is a wonderful way to honor all of those vicitms and their families!
Today I honor Vincent D. Kane.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:36 am
A beautiful tribute. It is such an honor to participate in this project.
Today I paid tribute to Edward T. Keane.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:07 am
That was a beautiful tribute.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Thank you for your tribute and your participation in this project.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Very nice tribute, it is wonderful that you participated in this project.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:32 am
wow, a really beautiful tribute, Shelli, really moving!
September 11th, 2006 at 9:41 am
beautiful tribute Shell…..very moving,
September 11th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Well done!
September 11th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:08 am
thank you!
September 11th, 2006 at 10:13 am
great tribute
Mine was Samantha Lightbourn who was also at the pentagon please feel free to visit
annie
September 11th, 2006 at 10:47 am
You did a remarkable tribute to a truly remarkable man.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Wonderful Tribute!
Thank you.
These are sad and hard to read….
I am honored to be a part of this project.
Mine is posted also…
The 2996 link is down. I have a new link on my site to view the participants.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,
but where he stands at times of challenge
and controversy. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bless you…
September 11th, 2006 at 11:11 am
This was a moving tribute in a wonderful project. The Pentagon was only miles from my house and those memories are still fresh.
~Shelly
Tribute to Cora Holland
September 11th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Lovely tribute.
September 11th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
Well done, love. xo
September 11th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Thank you for helping me to learn who he was and remember him on this anniversary. You did a great job with his tribute. I’m already all welled-up with tears but just reading about his daughter made my cup runneth over…
September 11th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
[...] Cmdr. William Howard Donovan Jr. (Pentagon) Shelli’s Sentiments [...]
September 11th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
wonderful tribute…I am so thankful that I read your post…I think its a wonderful thing, this 2996 blogger tribute…I did read his guest book….how sad…but you did a great job…take care
Kirsten
I honored Vincent Cangelosi
September 11th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
thank you for a wonderful tribute. you help us all to never forget these people.
i am proudly remembering Shawn Edward Bowman at the-looney-bin.blogspot.com
Erin
September 11th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Very nice…. thank you for doing this.
September 11th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
[...] Cmdr. William Howard Donovan will be honored by Shelli [...]
September 11th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
That was beautiful Shelli. You did an amazing job. That really touched my heart.
September 11th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Thank you for this wonderful tribute.
September 11th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
It looks like the 2996 main site is down under the load, so I’m trying to provide a backup unless someone else steps up. I grabbed the list of participants out of the Google Cache and re-hosted it using Amazon Web Services:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.windypundit.com/cache/2996-List.html
Amazon uses it for their own site, so it should easily take a billion hits or so.
Tell Everyone!
September 11th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Beautiful Tribute. The original site is down so I have reposted the original list here so that people can continue to read and tribute.
2996project.blogspot.com
September 11th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
What a beautiful tribute, Thank you for sharing this with us.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Hi great job with remembering Sept.11 I love to be kind and think about this every year
September 11th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Thank you for sharing this lovely tribute, and for reading the one I wrote for Yvonne Kennedy
September 11th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
A very touching tribute. Thank you for sharing.
I am paying tribute to Joao Alberto da Fonseca Aguiar Jr. at my blog: http://www.kateskafe.blogspot.com
September 11th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
For me it is another blog that leaves me choked.
Well done, and the same for all the others that have chosen someone to honour.
Ake Ake Kia Kaha
September 11th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
[...] Cmdr. William Howard Donovan will be honored by Shelli [...]
September 11th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Thank you for your beautiful tribute.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
What a lovely tribute! Thank you for participating. The people are no longer just a name to us anymore.
Mine’s up.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
It’s so heartbreaking to go from blog to blog… Thank you.
Tribute to Christopher Paul Slattery
September 11th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Thank you for remembering.
I have remembered Laura Lee Morabito
September 11th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
What a wonderful tribute
Faina’s Tribute
September 11th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Very nice tribute.. brought me to tears..
Thank you for that wonderful read today..
September 11th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Thank you, your tribute was beautiful.
Five years have come, and five years have gone, and still we stand together as one…
I did not know any victims, but I learned a lot about my asigned person. His tribute is on my blog.
9/11 is what compelled me to re-join the military and do my part.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Beautiful tribute … I have purposefully not followed the news today, but have been reading the many memorials across the blogosphere.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:47 pm
That was beautiful! Thank you for sharing. My tribute for William T. Dean is posted at http://justonecrazylady.blogspot.com/
September 11th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
A day of remembrance in case we should all too soon forget those who lost a loved one on this day……..a very sad day for us all.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
That every name, every face, every soul, every heartbeat should be made one. In the face of the tragedy we all lived through, it is the only prayer I have. Your tribute brings one more name, one more face, one more soul, one more heartbeat into the circle, and we keep living, not inspite of 9/11, but because of those who gave all.
Thank you for your piece of the puzzle.
Cindi
I proudly honored Jay Robert Magazine and Mark Bingham on my blog.
September 11th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adder
Before 9/11 the only view I had of the New York City skyline was from the top floor of my home in New Jersey. On any day I could look out the window and see the upper 30 floors of the World Trade Center.
When both buildings disappeared from view t…
September 11th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Moving tribute. So hard to keep reading these.
I linked your tribute at 2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adderley
September 11th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
The world is a better place because Cmdr. Donovan lived. Because he touched lives and left love behind, his legacy will live on.
September 12th, 2006 at 7:42 am
Thanks for introducing us to the commander in this warm tribute.
September 12th, 2006 at 9:40 am
And me….
September 12th, 2006 at 10:23 am
Very well done, Shelli. It seems you were able to find quite a bit of information on this man. Thanks for sharing him with us, and letting us know a little more about him.
September 12th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Honored to be part of the project with you. Very beautiful tribute!
September 12th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
What a guy. Thanks for this.
WC
September 12th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Thank you for writing a great tribute to a great man.
September 12th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
It is apparent that you took a lot of time and care to put this memorial together. Thank you for remembering Commander Donovan and in turn I will remember his as well.
Thank you for being part of this wonderful project.
Never Forget.
September 12th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Thank you so much for sharing Commander Donovan with us. This was a beautiful tribute.
September 12th, 2006 at 9:55 pm
You have honored William beautifully. Thanks for sharing his story. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
I have honored Judson Cavalier.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
thank you for this awesome tribute! another face instead of a number!!
September 15th, 2006 at 1:28 am
A beautiful tribute to a remarkable man. William will not be forgotten.
I remember Lisa Egan
September 15th, 2006 at 7:51 am
I think I would have liked Cmdr. Donovan too. Hard to believe he was only one year older than me. You did a great job honoring his memory.
September 15th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
An awesome tribute to yet another remarkable life lost on 9/11. Thanks for your research and heartfelt words. I remembered Jane Eileen Josiah.
September 17th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Great tribute.