Don Brunett was born on June 27, 1969, in Fairmont, West Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 15, 1990, and was trained in Field Artillery. After completing basic training and advanced individual training, Brunett was assigned to the 4/3 Field Artillery of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward) in Germany, and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield in late 1990. 4/3 Field Artillery was chosen to be the main fire support element for Task Force Iron during Operation Desert Storm, and SPC Brunett and his unit participated in the Battle of 73 Easting and the Battle of Norfolk during this time. During the war, his unit was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and was responsible for the initial breach of the Iraqi defenses, consequently rolling over the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division and taking 2,600 prisoners of war. The Big Red One continued with the subsequent 162-mile assault on enemy-held territory over 100 hours, engaging 11 Iraqi divisions, destroying 550 enemy tanks, 480 armored personnel carriers, and taking a total of 11,400 prisoners of war. During this time, SPC Brunett served as a member of the reconnaissance team, as a machine gunner, an ammo team leader, and as a driver for his unit. After the war ended, he served with the 101st Airborne Division until receiving an honorable discharge from the Army on May 15, 1994.