Battle of Tassafaronga
Donald Steven Runels was born on 8 July 1904 at Santa Maria, California. He enlisted in the United States Navy on 19 March 1926; was appointed machinist on 14 September 1938; warranted machinist (to rank from 10 September 1938) on 25 November 1939; and commissioned Ensign on 23 June 1942. He was killed when his ship, the was torpedoed and sunk during the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November 1942.