Don Irwin
| Date and Place of Birth: | June 1, 1915 Penryn, CA |
| Date and Place of Death: | January 17, 1943 Tularosa, NM |
| Baseball Experience: | Semi-Pro |
| Position: | Second Base |
| Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Military Unit: | USAAF |
| Area Served: | United States |
Donald A. Irwin, the son of George and Nancy Irwin, was born in Penryn, California, on June 1, 1915. Irwin graduated from Placer Union High School in 1933, and distinguished himself as an outstanding basketball player. He later attended St. Mary's College where he played basketball and baseball, and played semi-pro baseball with Auburn and the Colfax Lions in the Placer-Nevada League.
In January 1942, Irwin entered military service with the Army Air Force and trained in Arizona. He garduated as a bombardier at Chandler Field, Arizona, in November 1942.
On January 17, 1943, 2/Lt. Don Irwin and 10 other men were killed on a routine training flight when their B-24 Liberator crashed 10 miles north of Alamogordo Army Airfield at Tularosa, New Mexico.
On January 24, 1943, services were hald for 2/Lt. Irwin at the Harry Nauman Chapel in Sacramento, California.
On Sunday April 14, 1946, a silent tribute was held before each opening day Placer-Nevada League game in honor of the four players who lost their lives in World War II. In addition to Don Irwin, Chuck Kuhn of Auburn, Bill Larr of Roseville, Bill McNulty of Roseville and Colfax, and Bill Schroth of Placerville made the ultimate sacrifice.
Date Added March 16, 2020
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