While he may seem fairly casual and even unassuming at VFW Post 2214 during Tuesday lunches, Fairview native Col. Don Fallin has quite the career under his belt that has impacted not only the community, but also the world at large. His story is the kind you only hear about in historical fiction novels or war documentaries – or in this case, an article in a local magazine.
Fallin began his 30-year military career a few months after graduating from Fairview in 1982, a move that he thought would only last a few years at most. He explained, “I grew up in a low-income family in Fairview and lacked the resources to attend an undergraduate program after graduation, so I enlisted in the Army as a private to get the Army College Fund.”
When recalling the day he caught a Greyhound bus to boot camp, he shared, “I wasn’t too concerned about leaving home…I glanced over and saw my dad and mom, just solemnly sitting there by themselves. It wasn’t until decades later that I would understand their emotions, when my son and daughter left home, that I had an appreciation of how they looked and felt.”
Fallin said the two-year commitment seemed easy enough as he was expecting a follow-on assignment to Redstone Arsenal after basic. However, during basic, he realized he had actually signed an “open contract,” meaning, he was at the Army’s beck and call to go where it needed him. Stuttgart, Germany was the first place he was needed; a far cry from close-to-home Huntsville.
“Although I was disappointed about not returning close to home, I was excited about the opportunity to travel overseas. As time would tell, it was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Fallin, explaining, “My chain of command encouraged me to pursue becoming an officer by way of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.”
This encouragement would lead Fallin to first become an aviation colonel following his graduation from West Point, then later holding leadership and command positions in every rank from lieutenant to colonel, serving in Infantry, Airborne, Aviation and Special Operations Commands with duty in 18 countries across four continents.
During his storied career, Fallin served in eight combat tours, which include Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Resolute Support and Advanced Force Operations in the Horn of Africa and Eastern Europe; these combat tours total up to four years and six months of combat time. Of special note, his Special Operations Task Force was responsible for the rescue of hostage, Captain Richard Phillips, of the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia.
Fallin shared that despite these accolades, the things he remembers most from his deployments are not the medals and badges, but the people who were serving right alongside him.
“The men and women with whom I served…,” he recounted. “The teamwork and camaraderie in some of the most austere conditions. Each doing whatever was needed to make the mission.”
Yet, Fallin was frank in admitting that throughout his career, some of those missions didn’t always work out. “Deployments are an encapsulation of ultimate highs and lows; the adrenaline rush of a successful operation, and the gut-wrenching feeling of a lost friend,” he said.
These days, Fallin is a little more laid back, despite still rocking a haircut that is in regs and boasting those classic West Point manners. While his career may have come to a close, he is now serving his community and encouraging other folks – especially veterans recently coming home – to do the same. The key, said Fallin, is finding purpose.
“Find purpose. Purpose is different for people… for me, it is what makes you get up in the morning. Give back to your community and its citizens for having had the opportunity to serve with the greatest asset our country has, which are the men and women who answered the call,” he said plainly.
Fallin believes part of his purpose is in honoring those lost men and women through a partnership with the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, a nonprofit that raises scholarship funds for the children of fallen service members by leading annual endurance events. Fallin completed the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, climbed Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina and completed the 70-mile Inca Trail in the Peruvian Andes – raising over $175,000 for scholarships. (Read more about his adventures at www.cullmantribune.com/tag/donald-fallin)
When he’s not climbing mountains across the globe, he’s teaming up with local veteran-focused agencies. He is an active member of VFW Post 2214, serves on the Cullman County Republican Party Executive Committee, the Cullman Veterans Park Board and has spearheaded the Cullman Veterans Hall of Fame and also serves on its committee. Serving others seems to be a character trait that not only sustained him through his military career, but also bled over into sustaining the community as a whole.
“Serving is a catalyst,” said Fallin, “The more people you help, the more people you find that want to help.”
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Writer’s note:
Fallin was asked during this interview if he would like to recognize anyone from his time in service. Those individuals are listed below.
Major Russ Zahas
Led a flight of three Mi-17 helicopters to evacuate a Special Forces team in Kuduz, Afghanistan. The team was successfully rescued despite heavy enemy machine gun fire and a damaged aircraft.
Captain Lisa Becker
Exceeded standards and became the first female Mi-17 pilot in the country and led countless missions against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
Lieutenant/U.S. Navy SEAL Jonas Kelsall
Jumped into the Indian Ocean with his team of six men to coordinate with the USS Bainbridge in order to execute the Captain Phillips hostage rescue off the coast of Somalia. Kelsall was later one of 30 American servicemembers killed in action during a mission in the Wardak province of Afghanistan.
