THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Ssgt Dale Dehnke,
Thank you for your service as a Special Forces Infantryman. I hate that you passed on your birthday, sigh. It has been too long, and it's important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

1LT Danny D. Entrican was a Special Forces reconnaissance patrol leader for Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) alert team "Alaska" which was inserted into the Da Krong Valley in Thua Thin Province, South Vietnam on May 8, 1971. Entrican's duty assignment in Da Nang was that of an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. His team consisted of three Americans and three Chinese Nung mercenaries. The team was overwhelmed in a firefight three days later about 1 mile from the border of Laos, due west of Hue. During the firefight, two Americans, SSGT Dale W. Dehnke and SP5 Gary L. Hollingsworth, and one Nung were killed. Surviving commando Truong Minh Long and interpreter Truong To Ha stated that they rolled downhill after a hostile search party detected them hiding in the bush. 1LT Entrican and the two Nung had tried to make a chopper pickup, but Entrican, who was apparently wounded, yelled at them to move out and try to make the pickup alone. Danny Entrican was declared Missing in Action. SSGT Dehnke had grown up in Santa Monica, CA and was a good student and a very good baseball player. His dad pushed him very hard to go on with baseball, and Dale got frustrated and quit playing and joined the U.S. Army. Dale was killed on his 23rd birthday and one year later, his father sat on Dale's grave and took his own life. It was so sad, because they were a great family and his mom was never able to talk about Dale or his dad afterward. [Taken from pownetwork.org and macvsog.cc]

Dear SSGT Dale Willard Dehnke, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

May his sacrifice not be forgotten.

Dale is buried at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, Los Angeles County,CA.