SGT MERLE ALLEN DENTINO

 

Photo with medals above is from his High School Graduation. SGT Dentino was killed when the supporting unit had begun fire toward the enemy when two rounds fell short, killing him and SGT Michael Roy Waters, Millen Georga. The blast which killed Dentino, Waters, and wounded 29 others was not from a nearby enemy when the unit was leaving Cambodia in June 1970. Members of the Charlie Company, First Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment soon learned it wasn't enemy mortars but fellow U.S. Troops. They called it "Friendly Fire". "All the guys that were wounded got a Purple Heart," said Company Commander Michael Christy. "For the two who were killed, it was listed as non-hostile, and no Purple Hearts are allowed for non-hostile." Christy filed the paperwork but it took 42 years for Dentino to receive his Purple Heart. In 2012, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records approved the change in his status from Non-Hostile, to Hostile, and approved the award of Dentino's Purple Heart. On Veteran's Day 2013, in a ceremony at the Palo Alto Veterans Center, the military finally presented his sister, Teresa Dentino with her brother's Purple Heart medal. Read the full story and see news video here. Presentation of Purple Heart Ceremony - Palo Alto November 2013. Citation read as Teresa, Merle's sister, awaits presentation of Purple Heart. Teresa, Merle's sister, receives his Purple Heart from the Sergeant Major. Conclusion of Presentation of Purple Heart - Palo Alto November 2013.

Below his photo in Vietnam are the news clippings from the Peoria Journal Star news paper reporting his death and funeral. At the time of death, he was survived by his parents, two brothers, and a sister. He is buried with his parents, Ella M. Mucciante Dentino (1914 - 2005) and James Dentino (1909 - 1997) in Saint Josephs Cemetery, West Peoria, Illinois. -- The Virtual Wall

Contact Us

© Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd ®(TM)

Last update 08/15/2019