Donald E. Harvey, 70, Decorated U.S. Veteran

Command Sgt. Maj. Donald E. Harvey, U.S. Army Ret., 70, a resident of Haverhill for the last thirty-two years, died March 21 at the High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill, from complications from cancer due to exposure to agent orange during the Vietnam War.

Born in Creston, Iowa, son of the late Charles and Mary (Hyde) Harvey, he was raised and educated in Moses Lake, Wash., by his step-parents Tony and Daphine Aragon. A member of Moses Lake High School Class of 1964, he later received his degree in Business from Columbia College of Missouri.

A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and member of the Green Berets, he served from 1965 until his retirement as a Command Sergeant Major in 1987. He was a recipient of The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal, The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, The Good Conduct Medal, as well as several other medals and commendations.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, he settled in Haverhill and was a former owner and operator of 110 Towing and Hale Street Towing. He also served as a police officer for the Town of Sandown, N.H., from 1993 until 2007 with the rank of Corporal and also was employed for ten years by the Rockingham County Sherriff’s Department.

A member of the Purple Heart Association, he was devoted to his dog, Opie. He enjoyed building and restoring classic and antique cars, and was a member of several local Classic Car Clubs.

Harvey will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of fifty years, Barbara (Lucia) Harvey, two daughters and sons-in-law, Brooke M. and Dr. Frank Gibbons of Lexington, Mass. and Heather L. and Charles Brown, III of Haverhill, four grandchildren, Matthew Brown, Emma Brown, Liam Gibbons and Natalie Gibbons, three sisters, Wanda Pate of Texas, Barbara Smith of Georgia and Cindy Aragon of Idaho, four brothers, Bobby Aragon, Tony Aragon and Michael Aragon of Idaho, and Marty Reid of Montana , his stepfather Tony Aragon of Idaho, and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Life Celebration to be held on Sunday, March 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. His funeral service will begin on Monday at 11 a.m. from the funeral home with a graveside service with Military Honors at Noon in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill. The family requests that memorial donations be made to: The Purple Heart Association @ Purpleheart.org.