The United States Navy Memorial

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Deceased 07/15/1966

Rate/Rank
HM3

Service Branch

USN 6/1964 - 7/1966

Speciality

FLEET MARINE FORCE CORPSMAN

Born 09/21/1946

PIQUA, OH

KILLED IN ACTION - QUANG TRI PROVINCE, SOUTH VIETNAM, 07/15/1966. See Memory attached.

SIGNIFICANT DUTY STATIONS

USS WASP CVS-18

H&S COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 1ST MARINE DIVISION, III MAF

SIGNIFICANT AWARDS

PURPLE HEART * COMBAT ACTION RIBBON

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL W/STAR & FMF DEVICE

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS UNIT CITATION

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTION

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

SERVICE MEMORIES

Mark V. Dennis

Birth:	Sep. 21, 1946
Death:	Jul. 15, 1966, Vietnam
Mark was born in born Piqua, Miami, Ohio, the son of Charles Russell and Vera Alice (Sheley) Dennis. He was a Hospitalman, 3rd Class with the U.S. Navy, assigned as a medic to E Company with the Marines in Dong Ha, South Vietnam. He was also the acting chaplain for his unit, and wanted to be a missionary. He died when his helicopter was shot down. Charred remains were sent home for burial. Some years later, photgraphic evidence presented suspicion which convinced his brother, Jerry, that Mark had not died in Vietnam, but was taken prisoner. After exhuming remains, an autopsy revealed that they were not of Mark, but he was not officially listed as unaccounted for. His story was later featured on the TV series, "Unsolved Mysteries." After further investigation, the Department of the Army closed the case. However, the family still had many questions, and this website explains what they claimed really happened.

Submitted by Doug Bewall RMCM USN Ret