Donald G. Covey was born on June 15, 1924 in the town of Everett, Snohomish County, Washington to Ellery “Channing” Covey and Monica Covey, nee Brain. Donald’s siblings were Robert and Jewyl Covey. Ellery Covey worked as a carpenter and electrical contractor. He helped establish fire control schools at Mare Island and the Bremerton Naval Shipyard in Washington. During World War II, Ellery Channing entered the U.S. Navy, where he achieved the rank of Lt. Commander, serving as a vocational officer for the Navy.

Donald G. Covey registered for the draft on June 30, 1942. He was 18 years old, 5’11” tall, and weighed 155 pounds. He had brown hair, green eyes, and a dark complexion. He was employed by the Puget Sound Naval Yard. He was inducted into the United States Army on August 30, 1943 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was single, without dependents, and had completed one year of college.

Private Covey served in the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. The 180th had already fought in the Sicilian Campaign and Southern Italy when Covey joined the unit. The 180th landed at Anzio in January 1944. For the next several months, the Allies were pinned down at the beachhead by German artillery. Beginning May 23rd, the Division launched several attacks which resulted in the Germans abandoning the Gustav line defenses. After nine months of bitter combat, Allied forces liberated Rome in June 1944.

Private Donald G. Covey was killed in action on June 1, 1944 after being hit in the chest by artillery shell fragments. He is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Lazio, Italy, (Plot I, Row 6, Grave 15). He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.