Don Carr, Garrison director of public affairs from 2001-2014, died Nov. 18. He had a long, distinguished career of service, and a deep affection for the Army and Fort Belvoir.
In 21 years as a Soldier and public affairs practitioner, Carr was a renowned Army newspaperman, editing no less than 11 Army publications during his career.
Master Sgt. Don Carr served as chief of Army newspapers and director of Army News Operations at the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs in the Pentagon. He taught workshops, reviewed and edited thousands of Army stories, and mentored hundreds of young Army journalists.
After military retirement, he served as a civilian for another 21 years at Fort Belvoir, as editor of the Belvoir Eagle; command information chief ; and, after selection in February 2001, director of public affairs.
Don's career was recognized in 2018
with induction into the Army Public Affairs
Hall of Fame.
He was a tireless supporter of Belvoir and personally nurtured and developed friendships and relationships with many mission partners and community leaders.
In an interview with the Eagle, before he retired in 2014, Carr related one of his favorite memories of his time here, typically involving both the post and surrounding community.
Carr remembered, "In late 2002, the D.C. Sniper was creating havoc around the Beltway. The entire region locked down and Fairfax County canceled its youth activities' programs in the middle of youth football season, to protect kids' safety.
Somebody here had the idea: 'What if we did the playoffs here at Belvoir?'
"So, Long Parade Field and Pullen Field were divided into kid-football fields, lined and everything. That was a sight to see looking out this window," Carr said, pointing to his view of the parade field.
"Thousands of young kids played here, all day long. A local high school even had their championship game on Belvoir, close to the time the sniper suspects were caught," he said.
Without Belvoir and the relationship it had with the surrounding communities and county, those kids' playing season would have been over," Carr said.
We would like to add our condolences on his passing to Don's wife, Noy, their family, their many friends and his military public affairs colleagues.
Editor's note:
We dedicate this edition of the Belvoir Eagle to Don Carr, our former editor, public affairs director and life-long friend.
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