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Casualty Info
Home Town Appleton. WI
Last Address Appleton, WI
Casualty Date Nov 28, 1967
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Other Accident
Location Tonkin Gulf
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Saint Marys Cemetery - Appleton, Wisconsin
I have gone through a bunch of letters and the Year Books from Great Lakes, and 65-67, and 66-67 Coral Sea.
Denny was sworn into the Navy on September 10, 1965
He was in Company 486 at Great Lakes. He graduated on Oct. 29, 1965
He then proceded to Fire Fighting training in prepearation for assignment on the Coral Sea.
I do not have the date that he went onboard the Coral Sea, but it must have been around December of 1965
From what I can tell from the Yearbooks, he was in V1 Division for both tours.
He was in his second tour when he was killed on November 28, 1967 at about 7:50 p.m. He was the aft Elevator operator and real proud of it. The night of his death he was doing someone elses job. He was proceeding towards an F-4 Phantom when he got to close to the Jet intake. He was lifted off of the deck and in to the intake. I believe that he did not go all of the way in to the intake and suffered a broken back and immediate death. Fortunately there was an open casket. I can remember him in the casket as if it was yesterday. Denny is buried in St. Joseph cemetary in Appleton WI
I do have a nice photo of him from when he was home on leave probably early 67. I would be happy to send it to you but would like it back as we do not have a lot of pictures of Denny in his uniform.
I was only eight at the time of his death but do feel that I know him pretty good. My two sons closly resemble him and my oldest son has his personality.
Thank you again Ted for helping to keep Denny's memory alive. I am looking forward to seeing his memorial on the website. Could you also please send me the website again as I must have deleted the email that you had mentioned it on.
Brian Schmidt > 920-7350176 Home > Please feel free to call if you need to.