Bio: Harter, Dennis F. – Sgt. (Denies Death Rumor – 1969)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Harter

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 13 Nov 1969

(Letter from Dennis)

To the Editor:

My name is Dennis Frank Harter, Sgt. U.S. Marine Corps. I am a 1967 graduate from Owen-Withee. I joined the Marines right after school. I went to Vietnam in December 1967. I was in 1st M.P.'s in DaNang during the '68 Tet Offensive. I then transferred to G2-4 Gulf Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. I rotated in January 1969. I came back to Vietnam August 11, 1969, and will rotate September 9, 1970. This is my 2nd term as a grunt (Marine rifleman). Only this time I'm a a platoon sergeant. On patrol we may have as many as 50 men, three rifle sergeants, two M-4 gun teams and two rocket teams.

Well I got word from my parents, who now live in Peoria, Ill., that friends back home think that I have been killed. In hopes of clearing that up, could you gentlemen print a word that I'm O.K., and doing fine. Although I have been wounded four times with two Purple Hearts, Combat Action ribbon, Navy Unity Commendation, with the Bronze Star of Navy Achievement, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry that are till in the wind.

I would like you to put the word that I'm all right, because I have a lot of friends back home and I don’t want them to worry.

Sgt. Dennis F. Harter.