Donald Wilson Hurlburt enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1941. After completing basic training, and his subsequent promotion to Private First Class, he was assigned as an aviation cadet to Preflight Training School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. In June 1942, after completing Advanced Flying School at Moody Field, Georgia, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, and assigned as a pilot with the 358th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico.
In October 1942, he departed for the European theater of operations. There he served with the 258th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. He was promoted to First Lieutenant one month before his return to the United States.
He was next assigned to Headquarters, 1st Air Force, Mitchel Field, New York, and then the 1st Proving Ground Electronics Unit at Eglin Field, Florida.
First Lieutenant Donald W. Hurlburt died October 1, 1943, of injuries sustained when the aircraft he was piloting, an AT-18, crashed on takeoff during a local mission at the Eglin Field Military Reservation.
For his actions overseas and his military service, Lieutenant Hurlburt was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He was also authorized to wear the World War II Victory Medal, The American Defense Service Medal, The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star for participation in Air Offensive Europe Campaign, and the Aviation Badge "Pilot."