Army donor finds father really did know best
The title of the classic television show, “Father Knows Best,” might be the best way to describe Donald Pearce’s dedication to The Salvation Army. But in Pearce’s case the advice came from not one, but two father figures, leaving such an impact he honors them to this day.
“They both told me the same thing about their service in the first World War,” explained Pearce, 90, Bemidji, Minn. “If you’re looking for the service organization that was closest to the front line it will always be The Salvation Army.”
Not only did his own father say it, but Pearce’s father-in-law reinforced that idea. Both men are British and fought for them in World War I. They shared their stories of The Salvation Army serving on the front lines and helping right alongside the soldiers. During World War II, Pearce learned firsthand exactly what they meant when he served for the British Army as an intelligence officer.
“The Red Cross tended to be with the officers, The Salvation Army was with the men,” explained Pearce. “It was just a difference in attitude between them.”
Pearce strongly believed The Salvation Army volunteers and workers were the first to roll up their sleeves and the first to respond when needs arose. It’s something he witnessed not only at war, but at home during peacetime as well.
Pearce met his wife during World War II, while on duty in Washington D.C. He was working for British intelligence and she was working with the U.S. Navy intelligence.
“So I’m a GI bride-groom you see,” he laughed. The two hit it off, the war ended and they agreed to settle in the States.
Initially they lived in Ohio, then they moved to North Dakota and eventually settled in Duluth, Minn. That’s where Pearce served as director of the library at the University of Minnesota. Once, in Duluth, Pearce was on the way to a meeting downtown when he noticed firefighters battling a blaze.
“I was just struck by the fact that in the middle of the fire trucks there was The Salvation Army truck,” he explained. “Same way during the war time – they were right there nearest the front line.”
As he neared retirement, Pearce started to donate regularly to The Salvation Army. He’s currently on a 37-year streak. And when questioned about why he continues to give he laughed and simply said, “When you run into a good thing, you stay with it.”
Good thing too, because without the support The Salvation Army receives from donors like Pearce, none of the work we do could be accomplished. (You can join Pearce in the effort by giving online right now.)
You wouldn’t know it by talking to him, but Pearce turns 91 at the end of the month. There’s a sort of youthful exuberance about him, a passion for literature and language, he’s trilingual and speaks Spanish, French and Japanese. Apparently he’s a great listener too, heeding his father’s advice and learning for himself, how The Salvation Army is Doing the Most Good®.
“I always feel with The Salvation Army they’re doing a lot with a little,” said Pearce. “I think you’re organization is doing an excellent job and I’ll continue to feed them money as much as I can for as long as I can.”