Donald Eugene Nord was born on December 27, 1921, in Yuma County, Arizona. He was the son of August Nord and Katherine Simson Knight Nord. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1943. During his time there, he lived at Aggie House, where he also served as manager. After earning his degree, he worked as a sports writer for the Tucson Daily Citizen. He volunteered for the United States Army in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 4, 1942, and completed his training at Camp Howze, Texas. He was deployed overseas in December 1944. He served in the 84th Reconnaissance Troop, 84th Infantry Division, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner/ Observer of A-26B #43-22359 during World War II and time of his loss.

On March 21, 1945, A-26B Invader 43-22359 of the 642nd Bombardment Squadron, 409th Bombardment Group (Light), Ninth Air Force departed Advanced Landing Ground A-70 Laon-Couvron, France, as part of a formation tasked with attacking the German rail hub at Dülmen. This mission formed part of the Allied interdiction campaign designed to disrupt troop movement ahead of the planned Rhine River crossing (Operation Plunder) two days later. As the formation approached the target area near Reken, German anti-aircraft artillery (flak) opened intense fire on the low-flying Invaders. 43-22359 sustained a direct hit to the wing, immediately crippling the aircraft. Pieces of wing structure and shrapnel violently disintegrated outward, and the pilot lost all control authority. The aircraft crashed into the countryside to the northwest of Reken, killing the crew instantly.

In April 1945, two bodies were recovered from a common grave in Reken, Germany. They were exhumed and transferred to Margraten, where they were initially interred as Unknowns on April 17, 1945. Upon further examination, the remains were identified, primarily through dental records, as those of Lt. Cotton and S/Sgt. Nord. Both men were subsequently laid to rest at Margraten.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.army.mil, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com