Major Givens was the pilot of a F9F-4 Grumman Panther fighter with Marine Fighter Squadron 115, Marine Air Group 33, 1st Marine Air Wing.

On September 10, 1952, after a combat mission, his aircraft was diverted to Airfield K-3 (Pohang) because of bad weather. It crashed into a mountain. Major Givens was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Service Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.

One of six pilots of VMF-115, who crashed into a mountain SE of Taegu (K-2) on the evening of 10 September 1952, while returning from a mission.

Their names were Major Donald F. GIVENS, Major R. Earl DEMERS, First Lieutenant Alvin R. BOURGEOIS, Second Lieutenant John W. HILL, Second Lieutenant Carl R. LAFLEUR, and 2LT Richard L. ROTH.