David W. Blasen
DAVID W. BLASEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Originally established in 1996 as The Military Order of the World Wars Scholarship, the fund was renamed the David W. Blasen Memorial Scholarship in 2007.
The Military Order of the World Wars is a patriotic, nonpartisan organization that believes “it is nobler to serve than be served.” The Order was established in 1919 to promote the welfare of our nation as a whole. Because it is clearly not a self-seeking organization, the Order is widely respected and listened to throughout all branches of the government and across the country. The Order provides an opportunity for officers of all uniformed services to unite in a strong program to promote national
security, patriotism, good citizenship, and service to country.
The Order is comprised of over 160 chapters across the nation. Membership is open to anyone who has served as a commissioned or warrant officer in any of the uniformed services of the United States. Members have included Presidents Hoover, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. Thousands of citizens each year participate in programs sponsored directly by the Order, including seminars at the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge and numerous other sites across the nation.
The Order provides support for both the junior and senior ROTC programs each year. It also directly contributes to programs established to provide training and education for “youth at risk” to enhance their potential to live productive and happy lives.
The Military Order of the World Wars Scholarship was established within the Military Science Scholarship Endowment Fund in February 1997 through the generous donation of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) David Blasen and his wife, Dorothy. The Blasens are both longtime Portland, Oregon, residents and were the founders and owners of Blasen & Blasen Lumber Company. Both attended Oregon State University.
David entered OSU in the fall of 1939 majoring in forest products. He was a senior in the 1943 ROTC class that was called to active duty and sent to Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then deployed to the European theater of operations and served as an artillery forward observer in the Rhineland and central Germany campaigns, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. After World War II he returned to OSU and graduated with a degree in forest products with the class of 1947. David remained in the Army Reserves and retired in 1965. David has worked tirelessly providing support to Northwest youth through the Military
Order of the World Wars.
Dave passed away in February 2006. Both he and his wife were firmly committed to the education of our young men and women who desire to seek a commission in the military service. They have sponsored other scholarships, including the European-Pacific Theatre Memorial Award.