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Dan Michael Dennis
Corporal
M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Houston, Texas November 26, 1945 to May 13, 1967 DAN M DENNIS is on the Wall at Panel 19E, Line 105 |
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Tomorrow, May 13, 2004 you will have been gone for 37 years. Such a long time and yet such a short time. When I hear Sara McLaughlin sing "Will You Remember Me, I Will Remember You" I am moved to shout "Yes, Dan, I remember you". The skinny kid from Port Arthur that your friend and mine, Johnny McIntosh, set up with a blind date in October of 1962. We doubled with Johnny and my friend, Pat Chelf, who was visiting from Austin. We really had a good time and later that year you went to Homecoming with me. It didn't matter that you attended "TJ", our arch rival school, or that you were a year behind me in school because of your November birthday. You were funny and serious, all at the same time and I was so smitten! After I graduated I went to UT and you went to Abilene Christian College as it was known then and we drifted apart. Through Becky Gonsoulin and Johnny, both were in pharmacy school at U of H, I heard you had joined the Marines and later that you had found a girl in Oklahoma that you were serious about. Then I heard you died. I cried and cried. I remember you and feel laughter. I remember May 13th and I feel sad. Yes, Dan, I remember you. So does Johnny. He named his son after you. You meant a lot to both of us. Johnny says you were his life's best friend. Your place in my life was much more fleeting ... yet, I loved you as only a 17 year old can love. I wish you peace ... through the ages, and yes, I will continue to remember you.
Love, Donna
May 13, 2006 Dear Dan, Another May 13th is here and another anniversary of your departure. Itï¿ 1/2 s 39 years now but then who is counting? On New Yearï¿ 1/2 s 17 months ago, to my surprise I received an email from your brother, Rick, as a result of writing you and posting it on The Virtual Wall. After trying for years to find news of your parents and little brother, to have him write me unexpectedly was amazing. I did not remember his given name as he was about 7 when I last remember seeing him. Itï¿ 1/2 s been really great getting to know him and to see you through his eyes and experience. I think you would be pleased to know Rick is a fine man and a most loyal brother. I met him for lunch when he was in Austin for business. He looks so much like you or should I say, you both favor your father. After we ate, he brought some of your short stories in case I wanted to read them. I remember you talking about loving to write and spending a lot of time writing. It was really nice to hold your old notebooks and to read in your long hand, the stories you had penned so long ago. Rick and I stay in touch. Through our conversations, I learned how much your parents wanted to see Johnny again. I let Johnny know and was pleased to learn later that he had driven to Beaumont to visit them. Your leaving us so suddenly, left a hole in all of our hearts ï¿ 1/2 one that doesnï¿ 1/2 t seem easily repaired. There arenï¿ 1/2 t many days that pass where you are not present in our thoughts. So much time has passed and yet so littleï¿ 1/2 wishing you peace and love, as ever.
Donna
From a friend, Donna Waddill dwg728@hotmail.com |
A Note from The Virtual Wall
Mike 3/5 Marines lost three men killed in action on 13 May 1967:
On 26 May 1967, |
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