Donald Biasca was honored Friday, the 24th of February, during the monthly Humboldt Heroes celebration. The ceremony was held at Scott Hammond’s State Farm office on the corner of 7th and G Streets in downtown Eureka. Members of the public gathered at the office to honor this great local hero!
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Donald Biasca was born in Eureka in the “Old General Hospital” in March of 1931 to Mose and Eugenia Biasca, the sixth of nine children. He was raised in the Elk River area, attended Jones Prairie grammar school, and graduated from Eureka High in 1949.
During his senior year after school, Donald Biasca worked at Tony Gosselin International Harvester Co on Broadway, earning enough to purchase his first car. Since he was going to be drafted, he and his best friend went down and enlisted in the Air Force. They served from January 1951 to December 1953, just one month shy of 3 years.
While in the service, Donald Biasca trained in auto mechanics. He served with the 509th Bomber Wing while in New Mexico. In March of 1953, he was shipped to South Korea and attached to the 919th Engineering Company in an Army-run unit. It was called the S.C.A.R.W.A.F. (Special Category Army with Air Force), and they backed up the Sea Bees and built an airstrip for the Marines. This base was at K-6 at Peontek, and he served there for one year.
After returning to the States, he married Allene Sears, and they will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary this April! They spent 9 months in Charleston, West Virginia, and after his honorable discharge, they returned home to Eureka just in time to feel the big earthquake on December 20, 1954.
During the next six years, Don worked at Brizard Matthews Caterpillar, and the Biascas welcomed three children into the family: Russ, Ron, and Donna.
Donald Biasca saw an opportunity to open a rental business under a franchise, and United Rent-All of Eureka was born in 1961. After a few years, they went independent and changed the name to Don’s Rent-All. It was truly a place where you could rent anything. They later spun off into the medical equipment business and created Broadway Medical Service and the party goods business by creating The Party Place. All three stores are still in operation and are under the ownership of family members.
After retirement, Donald Biasca took a woodworking course at the College of the Redwoods. He started Intarsia woodworking, which is the art of creating a mosaic-like picture from pieces of wood, and never stopped. He spends about 6 hours every day working in his shop.
Donald Biasca and his wife, Allene, are active members of the Korean War Veterans Redwood Chapter 176 in Eureka. Don is past Treasurer, past Vice President, and past President twice. Allene is currently serving as Secretary. We are very grateful to Don Biasca for his lifetime of faithful service to his country and our community.
You’re invited each month on the last Friday of the month at noon! Come down to Scott Hammond’s State Farm office located at 537 7th Street in Eureka. If you have a Humboldt Hero, you’d like to see honored, please contact Scott Hammond at 1-707-444-2504.
Lost Coast Populist is a Patriot-owned News Publication.
We truly appreciate what Scott Hammond and other great local business owners are doing to honor veterans in our community.
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