Dennis Crane

Corporal
F BTRY, 2ND BN, 11TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
20 September 1947 - 15 June 1968
Spotswood, New Jersey
Panel 57W Line 024

1ST MARDIV

11TH MARINES


Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Dennis Crane

13 Nov 2006

When I arrived in Danang in December, 1967, for our artillery unit, I met Dennis right away and spent most of the year with him in our unit south of Danang and in other cities up toward the DMZ. Dennis was a radio operator while I was in fire direction control.

I was very saddened to learn that he died - I think in December, 1968 - while aiding a MedEvac in the field while a radio operator for a forward observer. I was honored to serve with him and proud of the way he served his country.

Sergeant Robert W. Miller
Mosinee, Wisconsin
rwmjem@charter.net

20 Mar 2008

Although I never knew you, Dennis, I married your sister Colleen in 1975. All I hear about you is glorious. Rest in peace, knowing that your family loved you and was very proud of you.

From his brother-in-law,
Ed Barneman, USAF



02 April 2008

Dennis was my older brother.
He was a proud Marine and was honored to serve his country.
I miss him terribly.

Colleen (Crane) Barneman



Ed and Colleen Barneman
eeejaybee@aol.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Corporal Crane was killed on 15 June 1968 - by friendly fire. So were 7 other Marines and sailors in two separate incidents. The eight men were
  • F Btry, 2nd Bn, 11th Marines
    • Cpl Dennis Crane, Spotswood, NJ

  • H&S Co, 1st Bn, 27th Marines
    • HM3 Joseph E. Tamagnini, Edison, NJ
    • HN Thomas E. Gregory, Endwell, NY

  • I Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines
    • Capt Henry Kolakowski, Farmington, MI (Silver Star)
    • 1stLt Joseph T. Campbell, Stoneham, MA (Navy Cross)
    • 2ndLt William G. Ross, Big Rock, TN
    • GySgt William F. Gunset, Somerville, MA
    • Pfc Gary C. Seymour, Hazel Park, MI
The two deaths from 1/27 are documented in the 1/27 operations log. Bravo 1/27, operating on Go Noi Island, spotted enemy soldiers in a treeline and called in 81mm mortar fire. Three short rounds landed in the Bravo 1/27 position, killing two men and wounding one other. The wounded man did not require evacuation.

The 3/5 Command Chronology notes that Fox 2/11 was in direct support to the battalion and would therefore provide the artillery forward observer teams. On 15 June 3/5 was participating in Operation MAMELUKE THRUST, but regretably neither the After Action Report or the operations log for 15 June is available. Never the less, it is believed that Corporal Crane was with India 3/5 when it was engaged on 15 June. The Citation for 1stLt Campbell's posthumous Navy Cross outlines what happened to India 3/5:

"On 15 June 1968 during operation Mameluke Thrust in Quang Nam Province, Company I became heavily engaged with a large enemy force and sustained several casualties. As the company prepared to evacuate its wounded, an artillery round impacted nearby, killing the company commander, a platoon commander, and the company gunnery sergeant. Although seriously wounded by fragments, Lieutenant Campbell realized that he was his unit's only remaining officer and refused medical aid in order to assume command of the company."
The artillery shell was a friendly short round which killed the five men named above - and, The Virtual Wall believes, Corporal Crane as well.

India 3/5 suffered another casualty on 15 June - Pfc Raymond N. McIntyre of Fostoria, Ohio, was killed by enemy gunfire.



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his sister and brother-in-law,
Colleen and Ed Barneman
eeejaybee@aol.com



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 13 Nov 2006
Last updated 04/11/2008