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Dennis Keith Eaker
Lance Corporal
A CO, 1ST BN, 26TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Duboistown, Pennsylvania November 08, 1946 to September 17, 1966 DENNIS K EAKER is on the Wall at Panel 10E, Line 105 |
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So long, I love you, my brother, see you soon.
Margaret |
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Dennis, I only knew you as a young boy growing up. I did not know you as a young man, which is my mistake. As your brother serving in the United States Air Force in Southest Asia, I flew several times in B-52's over the area where you were killed ... it always brought me to tears. The day will come when I will join you as a brother and as comrades in arms.
With much love, I am, your brother, |
A Note from The Virtual WallDuring the summer of 1966 the North Vietnamese Army's 324B Division had infiltrated south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with the clear intention of setting up a major presence in northern Quang Tri Province. The NVA 341st Division was positioned within and north of the DMZ and prepared to support the 324B Division and/or exploit opportunities arising from the 324B's operations.CG 3rd MAF, the senior US commander in northern South Vietnam, initiated Operation HASTINGS aimed at discouraging the 324B Division and forcing it back into the DMZ (at the time, US forces could not enter into the DMZ - it was an NVA sanctuary). Heavy fighting continued through July 1966, particularly around the "Rockpile" between Khe Sanh and Camp Carroll. HASTINGS ended, and a series of recon-in-force operations - termed Operation PRAIRIE - began on 03 August 1966. Operation DECKHOUSE IV was conducted by the 7th Fleet's Special Landing Force Bravo (Battalion Landing Team 1/26) as an adjunct to Operation PRAIRIE. BLT 1/26's area was about 8 miles northeast of Dong Ha, and the operation began with an amphibious landing and a heliborne landing some six miles inland west of Highway 1. At about 1330 15 Sep 1966, a recon team made contact with an NVA company. That contact was the first in what became ten days of heavy fighting for BLT 1/26's Marines and sailors. Although DECKHOUSE IV officially ended on the 18th, BLT 1/26 stayed in support of PRAIRIE until the 25th. The operation claimed at least 200 NVA killed at a cost of 37 Marines and sailors killed in action and another 167 wounded. The dead were
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