Biography
Mr. Donald J. "Don" Dare is awarded the 2022 Robert NETT Award based on outstanding and conspicuous contribution to the 3rd Battalion 11th Infantry, the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) and the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Alumni Association (USAOCSAA).On his own initiative, Don Dare accomplished what no other member of the USAOCSAA could do. He produced at his own expense four films that are essential in our plan to teach the history of OCS to new candidates and those films impact every candidate and it establishes the first impression of the USAOCSAA in their minds. The first two OCS Today and the OCS Memorial Walk are shown to every OCS Candidate in the second week of the Course.
In 2017, during the OCS Alumni Reunion, Don produced the first video which was an update of the 1967 television video entitled “The OCS Story”, narrated by the actor, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Don wrote, directed and narrated this new version of the OCS Story as well as the three other videos we requested.
The following year in 2018, Don again accepted the challenge of making a video of the rapidly expanding Memorial Walk being developed by Frank Harman. This video captures the significance of the bricks, pavers, and monuments, paying tribute to the distinguished Graduates, Medal of Honor Recipients, OCS Classes and Graduates, all Army units, and Graduates Killed in Action.
Additionally, again at his own expense, Don produced a film marketing the USAOCSAA Board of Directors effort to raise $300,000 for the OCS Heritage Center. He was personally generous with financial support for the OCS Heritage Center and the OCS Memorial Walk. The combination of this support compelled the USAOCSAA to recognize Don as one of three Wigle Hall/OCS Heritage Center Donors in the Commandants Circle. The threshold for the Commandants Circle was $25,000 or greater.
Again, the fourth video with Don as writer, producer, cameraman and narrator at the official 2020 opening of The OCS Heritage Center at Wigle Hall, which had become a high-tech venue celebrating the history and heritage of Officer Candidate School. This video captures the essence of the Center as well as comments by Alumni Association Officers and Candidates.
- He is a member of the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.
- He is a Distinguished Member of the 11th Infantry Regiment.
- He is a member of the Order of St. Maurice.
- Additionally, over the last 45 years, Mr. Dare has garnered several prestigious national and state journalism awards. Some of these award-winning national honors focused on veteran's issues: Agent Orange, PTSD, Radiation fallout, and unemployment.