Dean Owen was a comrade-in-arms of mine in Vietnam. We were in basic training together, advanced training. and ended up being assigned to the 15th Engineer Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.We shipped over to southeast Asia by boat (18 day trip across the Pacific) in October 1966. Our tour was for one year, but we decided to extend our tour for another 6 months. This meant we would rotate back to 'Freedom' the middle of April 1968.
During the night of April 6, 1968, our base camp at Dong Tam in the Mekong Delta took an incoming rocket and mortar attack. I made it safely to the bunker, Dean was about 25 to 50 yards away. He was mortally wounded by a direct hit.
Dean was from Camp Springs, Maryland. He got married on his leave between tours. His wife was pregnant with twins at the time of his death.
Another buddy of ours, Robert "Bob" Whiteside (who also shipped over with us), had the honor of escorting Dean's body back stateside.
I haven't yet had the privilege of visiting "The Wall" in Washington D.C. However, I did see "The Moving Wall" when it was on tour in Grand Rapids in the late 1980's.
Judging how I reacted when I was in the presence of the touring replica, I suspect that I will have great difficulty in maintaining my composure.
Dean, Thank You for your service and sacrifice. You will not be forgotten!
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