Dying Marine’s Final Wish: Marine Corps Flag and Dress Blues

By David E. Richardson
March 13, 2015

Indianapolis: KOCO Radio in Oklahoma City broke the story of a Native American Marine, Donnie Loneman, who faced imminent death from cancer. With just weeks to live, Loneman made one final request. He wanted burial in dress blues, along with a Marine Corps flag.

Homeless for the past decade, Loneman could afford neither. In fact, he couldn’t even afford his own funeral. But as Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs spread his story, a flood of support flowed in from numerous veterans’ organizations, such as:

Folds of Honor Foundation
Honoring America’s Warriors
Catholic War Veteran’s League
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Oklahoma Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Disabled American Veterans

Moreover, Native American groups also rose to the occasion to offer their support, including:

The Kiowa Black Leggings Society
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees
The Chickasaw Nation

Pooling resources, these organizations worked together to honor Loneman’s final wish. As a result, when the former marine passed away at the end of February, he had his dress blues and a Marine Corps flag. In addition, his support groups had arranged to pay the funeral expenses and to provide an honor guard. With military honors, Loneman was buried on March 6th. And in accordance with his desires, his pallbearers were Marines.

Donnie Loneman did not want anyone to grieve. He remarked to the family and friends who surrounded him during his last days that he was ready to go. But this was not simply resignation to the cancer taking his life; rather, it was a soldier’s commitment to a mission. As he put it, “I’m going to enter the gates, and I’m going to tell all the Marines who are standing there that they’re relieved of their duty. And I’m going to take their place, and I’ll stand there until my arm gets tired, and another Marine comes.”

God’s speed, Donnie. The gates of heaven are in good hands.