Whiteman bagger celebrates 80th birthday July 4th

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  An elderly man wearing a veteran's hat and sporting a tattoo reading USMC greets patrons to the commissary at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri with a charming smile.

He carries around a red cup with him and asks parents if he can give their children a piece of candy.

Don Magers, a Kansas City native and retired Marine Corps captain, is a staple to the Whiteman commissary as one of its baggers. He also celebrated his 80th birthday on Independence Day.

Magers was born July, 4 1934 at his grandparents' house and grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri area. In 1953, at the coaxing of a friend, he decided to join the Marine Corp.
The retired Marine knew he was going to have some trouble joining because he had a bad eye. So as he waited for the doctor during his physical, Magers memorized the eye chart and passed.

He was one of the few Marines who was around during Vietnam, but didn't deploy because of his career as a financial officer.

During his time he served in supply and finance, and bounced back and forth between being enlisted and an officer. He retired as a captain in 1977.

In 1963, Magers had a few months break from the military where served on the police force in Raytown, a KC suburb.

Magers received his first commission as 2nd lieutenant in 1966. He worked his way up to the rank of captain, but because of cuts in the military reverted back to enlisted as a master sergeant in 1970.

He found himself once again joining the officer ranks after being sent to Okinawa in January 1971 and pinning back on the bars as a 2nd lieutenant in June of that year.

One funny thing that came out of getting commissioned for the second time was when Magers started working as a second time 2nd lieutenant, his commanding officer was a captain that Magers used to be in charge of.

Fortunately, since the captain knew Magers when he was an officer, he gave Magers increased responsibility and delegated a lot to him.

Finally in May of 1976, Magers found himself back in the Kansas City area. He was transferred to the 9th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruiting Office as their fiscal officer.

In January 1977, he retired after 23 years of service.

One of his favorite memories during his career was being stationed in Japan and sight-seeing the country with his wife and kids.

Now, Magers enjoys his retirement with his wife, four kids and nine grandkids, living in Holden, Missouri and working at the commissary.

"Bagging is such a fun job," he said. "It doesn't make a lot of money, but I have a lot of fun. The people are great. Kids come in to the commissary looking for me because I pass out candy."