April 6, 1968 . . . my buddy, colleague and friend made the ultimate sacrifice that any Hero can.As I do every year at this time, I take a moment to remember Dean Owen, a young man with whom I served in Vietnam. His life ended when he was hit and mortally wounded during a mortar attack.
Dean and I met in advanced training at the end of which we were assigned to other bases in the U.S. Army. Later, we were to reunite during the remobilization of the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas in June, 1966. We were then deployed together, to Vietnam in advance of the entire unit, to prepare for the eventual arrival of the entire Division.
Dean and I were special radio operators in the Battalion Headquarters of the 15th Engineers where we handled radio traffic for the units of the Battalion. A few months after our arrival 'in-country' we started to receive more personnel, one of whom was Robert "Bob" Whiteside. The three of us became good friends, as bonding in a military unit was quite common.
We had 'good duty' as our jobs kept us, most of the time, quite safe in the Division Base Camp. The usual tour for a combat deployment in Vietnam was 12 months. The three of us decided to extend our tour an additional 6 months, as we felt comfortable and secure with our radio assignments. That meant that we wouldn't be going home with the rest of our unit in October 1967, but that we would stay until April 1968.
During that time frame, I was given an opportunity to move to a position in Company "A" of the Battalion, as a 'Commo Chief' which would result in a promotion. I tried it for a few weeks, but decided to pass on the position, so I returned to HQ company. Dean was offered the same slot and accepted and was reassigned to "A" Company.
Bob, Dean and I knew that we would be returning home in the middle of April and became "Short-timers" as the days dwindled down.
On the morning of April 6th, 1968, with just a couple of weeks left in our tour, the Viet Cong sent mortars and rockets into our positions. Bob and I in HQ Company were fine. We made it to the shelter, safe from harm. We later found out that Dean didn't; he was running for safety when he was hit.
It is bad enough when one loses a buddy in combat, which has been hurtful for 42 years; but when you add to this mix of thoughts and emotions the fact that your friend took the assignment you refused . . . . and died as result . . . . well that bears heavily upon my soul.
Rest In Peace My Friend - You will NEVER be forgotten!
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