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Born in Denver, Colorado on February 15, 1948.
The fourth child of Thomas Earl and Eloise Virginia Dickinson.
This photo from Easter 1951...
In 1953, David Began school at
Beach Court Elementary School/Denver, CO.
1960-Skinner Jr High/ Denver, CO.
also attended St Patrick's for a year during this time.
Then went on to North High School/Denver, CO.
When we lost our Dad
1962 ~ On the morning of August 5th, we were informed that our father had been killed in an automobile accident, in Rand, Colorado, sometime between midnight and 3am. He was found as the sun came up, by a couple of barbers, from Denver, who were in the area fishing. The driver of the car, left the scene of the accident and did not report it.
This was a devastating blow to all of us kids, but I have always felt, it affected David in ways we would never realize.
1963-High school years
at North High also in Denver.
1966-October he and a childhood friend, Dennis Spiker,
Joined the Army and were sent to Ft, Bliss TX for boot camp.
This is A Photo of Dennis Spiker...
Time spent in service prior to Vietnam
David went on to be stationed at Ft Polk, La. and then to Ft Benning, Ga. where he received a certificate in Recondo School. He was now to serve as a LRRP and Ranger for the of The 1st Cavalry Division and on April 17th 1967, David left for Vietnam.
Toward the end of October, he was on R&R and in Austraila. He was able to call me from there. He stated he would be staying on for a second tour. He believed in what he was doing there. That was the last time I talked to him.
DECEMBER 6, 1967
Killed in action at Binh Dinh South Vietnam,
at the age of 19.
A DAY THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER...
Being the only non-working member of our family at that time, I was at home, assuming that my Mom, Brother Bobby and sister Diane, were all busy at their jobs, afterall it was a week day.
Early afternoon my front door opened and in walked my Mom, my brother and my sister...
Bobby started toward me, I started backing away from him...
I said, "It's David, isn't it?"...Bobby said, "Yes, Garnet, it is..."
I said he has been wounded, hasn't he?"...Bobby said, "No Garnet, he has been killed in action"...
I started pounding my fists on Bobby's shoulders..."No Bobby, don't tell me that! He's just wounded!, He's just wounded!"...
And then the words penetrated....
"HE'S GONE GARNET, he's gone"...
39 years later, I still cry, when I think of this....
Dec. 15, 1967
David was laid to rest at Ft Logan Natl Cemetary, Englewood Colorado.
He left behind his mother Eloise Dickinson
his sisters Garnet and Diane
and brother Robert
also five nieces whom he had become close to and who thought the world of him. Linda, Lori Kay, Julie and Carol Jenkins and Maryanne Miller.
We have all missed...
What would have been....
If only David had come home....
Thanks to David's niece Kimberly Dickinson
for visit to Ft Logan and for the flowers
and the photos!
"NOR SHALL YOUR GLORY BE FORGOT,
WHILE FAME HER RECORD KEEPS,
OR HONOR POINTS TO THE HALLOWED SPOT,
WHERE VALOR PROUDLY SLEEPS"
~by Theodore O'Hara~
Dennis R. Spiker
06/24/48~03/17/96
In Memory of Dave Dickinson
Donald "Skeeter" Pettibone (Friend "brother in arms" )
To ALL the Dickinson Family'
It is my honor and priviledge to be allowed to pay tribute here to your Son, Brother, Uncle and My brother in arms. David was my friend, a wonderful person, a leader of men and a courageous hero. He will always be remembered by those of us who served with him, for his steadfast encouragement, humor, inteligence, leadership and love of family. We who knew him during our time in Viet Nam, even if ever so briefly, will always remember his larger than life personna. Dave Dickinson was a Man's man and a hero to all. This world is a much better place for having had the gift of the likes of a David Dickinson. Such a very short period of time here with so much affirmed by those that came to know him. America lives and continues to thrive and prosper thru the heroics of people so willing to lead and sacrafice. I will never forget Dave, and I am ever so thankful to have been his friend. The pleasure was all mine.
Donald "Skeeter" Pettibone
Carol
David's Niece
I had the honor of reading names for the traveling wall Friday, May 18. I took my 2 older children who are living at home, David, named for you, and Lynsie. We each were given a 15 min time period. After all I have read about and heard about, I never considered the death toll as a day by day event. We never got out of July. Forty-five minutes of reading and we never got out of July. You can imagine how silly I felt when I realized how foolish the notion that I would get to read your name if we all just read fast enough. I doubt that your name was gotten to before evening. We read from 11:15 to 12:00noon. Missing you very much and praising God for the memories I still have of you. Moonpies and spankings! I love you, Uncle Davy!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
(Taken from tribute on The Wall-USA web site)
Doc Gilchrest
Friend and team medic
China Spring, Tx
From our first day on the hill, until our last mission together, in the mountains above Dalat, You were my friend and my mentor. It was you that made the names of LRRPS and RECONDOS stand out above the rest. From Underdog to Tom Terrific, there were none better than you. Your face shines as brightly in my memory today as it did then. My mourning has turned to pride, and I pray that it will never dim with age.
Monday, May 22, 2006
(Taken from tribute on The Wall-USA web site)
We will Remember
How can one have much legacy in 19 short years?
David was well known around our neighborhood and
well liked. A lot of people that knew him around Denver,
came up to me, for many years after David died, to talk
about him or share their memories of him. It amazed me that
this still happened, over 30 years after his death.
What he did leave behind from my perspective, was a
grieving mother, which I know now, is a tremendous grief.
Something I could only assume at the time we lost David.
I only knew I lost my brother and it was most devastating to
me then and still is to this day. He was my friend.
He helped me so much with my girls, when he was staying
with me and the girls all adored him. He was as much of
a kid with them, as they were kids themselves. They had a lot of fun
together. I am thankful for the fact that my kids did know him,
and he knew them. Unfortunately, my brother Bobby's and my sister Diane's children didn't have that luxury.
Just recently, my daughter Carol, who now has a son 21 years old,
said to me, "Mom when Uncle Dave was around, I was so little then
and I always looked at him, as a grown man. Oh Mom, I realize now, he was so young....so young"
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
We will remember them.
"For the Fallen" September 1914
~ R.L. Binyon~
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP-rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots. They carried M-16 assault rifles. They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade launcher, M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, 66mm Laws, shotguns, .45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes. Some carried napalm, CBU's and large bombs some risked their lives to rescue others.
Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive. They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworm and leaches. They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots. They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones - real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another. And sometimes they disguised that love: "Don't mean nothin'!"
They carried memories. For the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people squealed - or wanted to, but couldn't when they twitched and made moaning sounds and covered their heads and said "Dear God" and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly and cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die.
They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations. They carried the soldier's greatest fear: the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment. They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it. They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment. They carried the weight of the world.
THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER
~Author Unknown ~
May 19, 2009
Just saw these 3 photos of my brother,
for the first time...they were posted on
the LRRP website recently, in a new
photo album.
GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 704
2 February 1968
AWARD OF BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROISM
1. The following Award is announced posthumously
DICKINSON DAVID T. SERGEANT E-5
United States Army Headquarters & Headquarters Company 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Awarded: Bronze star Medal with "V" Device
Date of action: 21 November 1967
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For heroism not involving participation in aerial flight in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam.
Sergeant Dickinson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 21 November 1967 while serving as a patrol team ' leader with a long range reconnaissance patrol detachment during a combat mission in the Soui Ben Vach Valley Republic of Vietnam. When his unit came under intense hostile fire Sergeant Dickinson exposed himself to the enemy fire as he maneuvered his men to a more advantageous position. He then called in and adjusted artillery fire on the hostile emplaements. His action destroyed numerous enemy bunkers and contributed greatlly to the successful completion of his unit's mission. Sergeant Dickinson's display of personal bravery and devotion to duty was in Keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and ref'lects great credit upon himself his unit and the United States Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046 24 august 1962
FOR THE COMMANDER:
OFFICIAL: GEORGE W PUTNAM JR.
Colonel GS
Chief of Staff
CITATION
BY DIRETION OF THE PRESlDENT
THE AIR MEDAL
SERGEANT (THEN SPECIALIST FOUR) DAVID T. DICKINSON
FOR DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF BY MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILD PARTICIPATING IN SUSTAINED AERIAL FLIGHT IN SUPPORT OF COMBAT GROUND FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM DURING THE PERIOD APRIL 1967 TO DECEMBER 1967.
DURING THIS TIME HE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE AERIAL MISSIONS OVER HOSTILE TERRITORY IN SUPPORT OF COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS. DUING ALL OF THESE MISSIONS HE DISPLAYED THE HIGHEST ORDER OF AIR DISCIPLINE AND ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST TRADITIONS OF THE SERVICE. BY HIS DETERMINATION TO ACCOMPLISH HIS MISSION IN SPITE OF THE HAZARDS INHERENT IN REPEATED AERIAL FLIGHTS OVER HOSTILE TERRITORY AND BY HIS OUTSTANDING DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALISIM AND DEVOTION TO DUTY HE HAS BROUGH CREDIT UPON HIMSELF HIS ORGANIZATION AN THE MILITARY SERVICE.
