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Dean Russell Orn
First Lieutenant
HQ & SVC BTRY, 6TH BN, 11TH ARTILLERY, 11TH INFANTRY BDE, AMERICAL DIV, USARV Army of the United States Nappanee, Indiana January 17, 1946 to March 11, 1969 DEAN R ORN is on the Wall at Panel W29, Line 13 |
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In recognition of his bravery, Dean was posthumously awarded the Silver Star by the U.S. Army. The government of South Viet Nam posthumously awarded him the National Order of Viet Nam and the Cross of Gallantry with Palm. His other medals and awards include the Viet Nam Service Medal, Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal, and the Expert Badge with Machine Gun, Automatic Rifle, and Rifle bars.
A memorial from his nephew, |
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Lt Orn replaced me as the Artillery Forward Observer with C Co 4/21st Infantry. He was an underclassman at Officer Candidate School when I was an upperclassman. Lt. Orn was killed in Quang Ngai Province, I Corps, along with 4 other soldiers of Charlie Co. It is difficult to describe the hostile environment of that awful place where these men died. 110-degree mountainous jungle with razor sharp grass, so thick that it was difficult to travel more than a few miles a day. The swamps were full of leeches, mosquitoes, ants and deadly snakes. Couple that with the ever-present booby traps set in every clearing and trail. No friendlies, only NVA/VC equipped with the latest Soviet weapons who were determined to kill American soldiers. Forward Observation was extremely hazardous duty requiring young artillery lieutenants to direct cannon fire on targets at very close range. I left Charlie Co. and returned to Ft Sill Artillery School to instruct Officer Candidates on how to survive. That's where I received a letter informing me of Orn, Moore, Horton, Richardson, and Graham.
"But we in it shall be remembered-
From a fellow officer, |
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After the 6th Infantry Division was deactivated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1968, Dean and I were temporarily assigned to the same Basic Training Company. He had a little red sports car (MG, I think) and we used to run around together a lot. We were both young and single and we had a ball together. Dean came down on orders for Vietnam in December, 1968. In March, 1969 I heard he had been killed. He was the first guy I knew personally that was killed in Vietnam. I was drunk for 3 days. I will never forget Dean and the great times we had at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Rest in Peace, Brother.
From a friend, |
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My son, Dean R. Orn II, posted the information on my brother, 1LT Dean R. Orn. The e-mail address shown for my son is no longer current. If any of you who knew my brother would like to contact the family, my e-mail address is mko906@aol.com. Mike Orn
Michael K. Orn |
A Note from The Virtual WallAlthough assigned to H&S Battery, 6/11 Arty, First Lieutenant Orn was an Artillery Forward Observer with C Company, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade. C Company lost four of its own men in the same incident:
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