Dennis R Decker, 3rd Marine Division 3rd Recon Charlie Company in Da Nang, Vietnam (Pictured Left) with Jeff Daley, MACV Army TDY to Da Nang.
Dennis R Decker reported for the last time on April 25, 2018.
As we lose our Vietnam veterans at a faster pace I could not let him go without recognizing him. I have known him for decades and he was more of a brother to me than my blood brothers. I loved him and will miss him.
Dennis R. Decker lived in Kingsland, Texas, and after many years of ill health caused by Agent Orange (AO) complications, he lost the battle. He was 71 years old.
He was born Sept. 1 7, 1946, in St. Paul. He attended school in Ogilvie. He was never married and had no children.
He was very proud to be a Marine from 1964 to 1970 serving two tours in Vietnam.
His passion was owning, running and selling businesses and most of all his precious cats.
He moved to Pierz for a while and then Onamia, Minnesota on the river. That was when he started his long journey of extreme medical conditions from the complications of Agent Orange.
He moved to Kingsland, Texas, in 2011 for health reasons and to be near his best friend since age 10.
In January of 2018, his health worsened.
He is being cremated and his ashes will be vaulted Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota with his Mother and Father that served in WWII and was awarded the Silver Star.
MINNESOTA STATE VETERANS CEMETERY
DECKER, DENNIS R
CPL US MARINE CORPS
VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/17/1946
DATE OF DEATH: 04/25/2018
BURIED AT: SECTION B ROW B3 – SITE A-2
15550 HWY 115 LITTLE FALLS, MN 56345
(320) 616-2527
DEPLOYED MAY 1965 TO CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
VIETNAM, MAY 1965 – NOVEMEBR 1969,
OPERATING FROM DANANG / HUE / PHU BAI / THEN MOVED NORTH AND PATROLED THE COMPLETE NORTHERN SECTOR OF THE DMZ
3rd Marine Division 3rd Recon Charlie Company
Barry Colassard, Captain
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
1965 to 1969
Two thousand eight hundred Marines and sailors attached to the battalion served in the Vietnam War and 1,333 were killed in action or declared missing.
Four battalion members—1st Lt. Frank Reasoner, 2nd Lt. Terrence Graves, Pfc. Robert Jenkins and Lance Cpl. Richard Anderson—posthumously received the Medal of Honor for their actions in Vietnam. Thirteen received the Navy Cross and 72 the Silver Star. Approximately 40 percent received Purple Hearts.
Combat Action Ribbon
Presidential Unit Citation – 8 March 1965 to 15 September 1967
Navy Unit Commendation 22 September 1965 to 15 March 1966
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation 16 September 1967 to 31 July 1968
Meritorious Unit Commendation 1 August 1968 to 30 September 1968
Vietnam Service Ribbon
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Good Conduct Ribbon (Not Shown)
Read more about the 3rd Marine Recon Association
“Swift – Silent – Deadly”
Dedicated to the Marines and Navy Corpsmen of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion,
3rd Marine Division, FMF PAC * United States Marine Corps
“A Brotherhood Forged In Combat”
* Chu Lai * Da Nang * Phu Bai * Quang Tri * Dong Ha * Khe Sanh * Cam Lo * Helicopter Valley * Co Bi Thran Tan * FSB Argonne *
* Leatherneck Square * The Hill Fights- 881N/881S * The Razorback * The Rockpile * Hue * Charlie Ridge * Mutters Ridge *
* A Shau Valley * The Backyard * OP Ba Na * Antenna Valley * Con Thien * Camp Reasoner * Camp Carroll * The Arizona * The DMZ *
Saepe Expertus – Semper Fidelis – Fratres Aeterni
“Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever”
Dennis R. Decker has been submitted for admittance in June of 2019 to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Honors.
IN MEMORY
VVMF’s In Memory program honors Vietnam veterans whose lives were cut short as a result of their service in Vietnam, but are not eligible for inscription on The Wall under Department of Defense guidelines. Examples of causes of death that fit the criteria for inclusion in the program include exposure to AGENT ORANGE that resulted in, cancer, diabetes, Ischemic Heart Disease, and others.
The Virtual In Memory Honor Roll includes a remembrance page for Dennis R Decker at https://www.vvmf.org/Honor-Roll/3755/DennisRolandDecker/
Read more about Jeff Daley Military Service