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Donovan Cumpston laughs at a joke his wife Jamie Moran said in the dining room of their West Union home.
[Staff photo by Faithlyn Graham]
Donovan and his wife, Jamie Moran dressed up to match North Bend State Park car show theme. Cumpston went as the Cowardly Lion while his wife dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
[Staff photo by Faithlyn Graham]
Episode 3138 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Dovonan Cumpston and life of service to his country. The featured story is titled: ‘The land was a lot like West Virginia’: 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran reflects on his time at war. It appeared on the WV News website and was submitted by Faithlyn Graham, Staff Writer.
Graham reported that Doddridge County native Donovan Cumpston exemplifies the quiet strength and enduring pride of America’s Vietnam veterans. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Cumpston served from 1965 to 1968, spending eight months in Vietnam at Camp Radcliffe in the Central Highlands. There, he handled finance duties—managing payroll and travel for fellow soldiers—with the same dedication he brought to every part of his life. He earned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during the Tet Offensive, one of the war’s most pivotal and dangerous campaigns.
Cumpston recalls Vietnam’s hills and warmth as reminiscent of West Virginia, and he remembers the kindness of local villagers. Yet his homecoming was harsh—he, like many Vietnam veterans, was met with silence and disapproval from a divided nation. Over time, however, public attitudes shifted, and today he’s proud to see Americans offering the respect that Vietnam veterans long deserved.
After the war, Cumpston built a career in government finance with the Bureau of Public Debt and later found camaraderie in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, honoring his service and that of his brothers in arms. In retirement, he and his wife, Jamie Moran, share a love for classic cars, traveling to shows around the state and celebrating life with humor and creativity.
At 81, Cumpston reflects on his journey with humility and gratitude. His story is a testament to the resilience, integrity, and quiet heroism of Vietnam veterans—men and women who served their country faithfully, even when recognition was slow to come.
Listen to Episode 3138 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Dovonan Cumpston and life of service to his country.
