Donald Patrick McDonald was born on February 9, 1916, in Thebes, Alexander County, Illinois. He was the son of Maurice Stout (deceased when Donald enlisted) and Mary Ellen McDonald, of Evanston, Illinois; husband of Anna Ruth McDonald, of Wellston, Ohio.

Donald served in the 142 (R.A.F.) Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Pilot Officer during World War II. On June 2, 1942, his Wellington IV Z1410 aircraft took off from RAF Waltham (Grimsby) but turned back after the engines started to have problems, but crashed at Thoresby Bridge near North Cotes, bursting into flames on impact.