THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Lt Dennis Peek, Thank you for your service as a VMA Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is the Easter season. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Lt. Dennis Lee Peek was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while engaged in aerial flight. He served as a Pilot and was assigned to VMA-211, MAG-12, 1ST MAW, III MAF.
See https://marines.togetherweserved.com/

1LT Dennis L. Peek was a U.S. Marine pilot assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211), Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), 1st Marine Air Wing. On January 9, 1970, 1LT Peek was participating in combat operations 20 miles south of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN, in a Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (#152082) when his jet was hit by ground fire and crashed. Peek was fatally injured in the incident. His remains were recovered. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

I was one of his flight instructors in Kingsville, TX. Students could select a destination for a long cross-country flight as part of their training. On a flight to Detroit area we stopped at Scott AFB and his parents drove over to go to his home for lunch. Memorable weekend.

As I reach 70, I think often of events that shape our lives. I met Dennis in '65. I never knew Dennis very well but we meet at GMI because the mail room kept mixing up our mail. Because of that, I started using my first initial in my correspondences. He made the greatest sacrifice of all for his country. I have never forgotten him and the other friends, relatives, and classmates that died in, or because, of Viet Nam. God bless them all.

Semper fi.

C. Dennis Peek