George Edward Dehner

Private First Class
H&S CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
25 April 1949 - 19 October 1968
Alton, Iowa
Panel 40W Line 002

1ST MARDIV

5TH MARINES
George E Dehner

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for George Edward Dehner

18 March 2004

REMEMBERED

by a cousin,
James M. Cool
cool@polb.com
23 May 2006

George,

Memorial Day is coming up and I just wanted you to know that I remember you very often other than Memorial Day. I often wonder between you, Gary and me, why I was the one to come home. It damn sure wasn't supposed to turn out like this. I wish the punk, ungrateful kids of today would understand, appreciate and be grateful for the sacrifices made by our families for this wonderful country. Most of them wouldn't even know how to begin to walk in the shoes we walked in over thirty years ago.

Rest in peace,
Cousin Jim



23 May 2007

George,

Memorial Day is close and I just wanted to remember you on this special day. Memorial Day is not the only day I remember you. One couldn't after experiencing what we did. Our families made the ultimate sacrifices during this conflict and it would be disrespectful to them not to remember you and Gary often. You both are the heroes, not me, I was the lucky one to return. I take solace in believing that your short life was God's plan for you and that you now rejoice in his presence. Save a spot for me.

I salute you and rest in peace.
Cousin Jim



Jim Dehner
jimdehner@yahoo.com
31 May 2006

Dear George,

I was not born during the time of Vietnam, or your lifetime. But I know of your sacrifice, and I have seen the tears of people who can appreciate it in a way that I never could. Know that you are missed, and that there are friends who carry on your memory through stories of good old times and days. I have heard those stories and I have seen your name on the memorial. But it is not what can be seen engraved on those two Walls that makes you special. It is what I see in the reflection of the stone. The people, coming to understand how much war takes, but ultimately, how much more is given.

Thanks George, I wish I could shake your hand.

E-Mail will be forwarded by the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

09 Jun 2007

I remember George. I served with him in the 81s platoon. Everybody liked him. Mainly because he liked everybody and he was a real cut-up. Kept us all laughing with his humor and good cheer. My most funny memory of him was us all skinny-dipping in a rainwater filled B-52 bomb crater, and him cracking jokes the whole time. Way up in the mountains east of An Hoa. It was later on that mission that George was killed which upset the whole platoon. Most of us cryed like babies. I'll never forget him.

Former Lance Corporal,
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines,
H&S Company, 81s Platoon

Bob Dodge
Lake Stevens, Washington
rldodge@juno.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The 3rd Bn, 5th Marines, lost five men to "explosive devices" on 19 Oct 1968:
  • LCpl Edward J. Thibodeaux, Greenwell Springs, LA, India Company
  • Pfc George E. Dehner, Alton, IA, H&S Company
  • Pfc Johnny L. Johnson, Cleveland, OH, India Company
  • Pfc James J. Raiolo, St Paul, MN, India Company
  • Pfc Charles F. Strafello, Avon, MA, India Company


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a cousin,
James M. Cool
cool@polb.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 18 Mar 2004
Last updated 11/11/2007