Peggy Moller McCarthy
totem45456@cox.net
friend
Az
It is 12 years after my last message to you. I am not surprised to see messages from others who knew and loved you and written recently. You were a person someone would never forget. We are working on our 50th reunion from high school to be held in 2013. You will be sorely missed but not forgotten my old pal. I think about you often and it makes me cry but those memories are always about fun and they are wonderful memories to have so many years later. I do hope that we will meet again because I have so much to share with you and you always had the time and patience to listen to me. Always in my thoughts. Love Peggy Moller McCarthy. Totem45456@Cox.net.
May 22, 2012 |
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Carl Heide
blue190@aol.com
O.C.S. roommate
7 Overlook Dr Berkeley Heights NJ 07922 USA
Thinking of you often but especially on Veteran's Day, your birthday.
Dennis, Thanks for being such a class act and a great roommate for those six months. Think of you and Earnie often. Wish you were here, I know you would have made a positive influence on many lives, you did on mine. Carl Heide
Nov 11, 2011 |
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tom hughes hughes
etommyhughes@yahoo.com
best college friend
St Petersburg FL United States
Old wounds and sour feelings mixed with warm memories of my friend Dennis are evident in my previous message. I apologize for inserting conjecture and negative comments re Viet vets. For many of them returning was as difficult a task as their time at war. I just wish our government treated vets from all wars with the respect they deserve.
Anyway Dennis believed and died for what he felt was a just cause. I remember a letter from him expressing regret at how his beloved New Yorker Magazine had taken an anti-war stance.
We were best college buddies. He went to war and I served in the Peace Corps.
May 30, 2011 |
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tom hughes hughes
etommyhughes@yahoo.com
best friend in college
albuquerque NM 87114 United States
In My Thoughts Often Over the Years
Surprised at how often over the years Dennis has been the subject of random thoughts. I seem to frequently imagine how he would react to all the devices (cel phones, laptops, GPS systems etc) we now take for granted which he never used. I still recall the many films and Broadway shows we shared. My thoughts of him always conclude with ' what a waste.' Of course he did his 'duty.' I'm sure he was a fine officer and did an excellent job. Too good maybe...his unit was withdrawn shortly afte his passing. I did some research years ago. Seems a disproportionate number of his units officers were killed then. Was he fragged? Is that homeless Viet vet panhandling at the end of the freeway the guy who knocked my friend off? Anyway I wonder what ever happened to our mutual friends and how has he set in their thoughts over the years.
May 30, 2011 |
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Fred Clas
frd.clas@gmail.com
fraternity brother and Army brother
Has it been so long?
I can't believe 39 years have come and gone. On Friday, 9/11/2009, your birthday, I will be going to Washington, DC with a group of people to exercise our right of free speech to express our concerns for our government. A sacred right that you and thousands of other patriots have fought and died for. I will go to The Wall and find your name and thank you for the sacrifice you made. But for the grace of God, I know that my name might have been chiselled in the black granite near to yours. I was in Infantry Officer's School at Fort Benning when you were killed. I knew it was just a matter of time until my orders for Vietnam would be cut. I would be 'in country' facing a deadly enemy and facing my own fear. When the bullets flew would I be a brave leader? Would my men Follow Me? I never found out. For some reason God had a different plan for me. My orders were changed and I was sent to Ft Jackson, SC to be a Training Officer for Basic trainees. I did my best to prepare those young men to do their duty and to return home to their families. I wonder how many of them have their names on the Wall? Dennis, you were a friend and an example to me at SU and Phi Gamma Delta. I was President of the fraternity the year after you went in the service. I had big shoes to fill. I did my best. We won the Tolley Cup that year, but it was due to your leadership the year before. I received the Cup, but you earned it. It has been 39 years since then. It's hard to believe. Life truely is short. I wonder what you would have accomplished in those years? It just doesn't seem fair. Perhaps I would meet you in Washington this weekend. It seems like something you might have done. I will meet you there. At The Wall.
Sep 9, 2009 |
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manny g
Fellow Veteran 69-70 An Khe
Union Gap, WA. 98903
“You are Remembered”
Peace and condolence, to the family and friends. "He which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart. But we in it, shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.” Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare) May God Bless you, for your Sacrifice!!!
Jun 13, 2007 |
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Al Lono Lyman
lymana001@hawaii.rr.com
Fraternity brother and friend
2048-A Ualakaa Street Honolulu Hawaii 96822-2080 USA
Dennis Heitner, Will Always be, In Our Hearts & Never Will Be Forgotten
June 12 2007: Today/tomorrow (depending on what side of the International Dateline 6/13/70 was) is the 37th anniversary of Dennis’s death in Viet Nam.
Dennis, was a fraternity brother, at Syracuse University. He was a groomsman, in my wedding on June 21, 1969, and that was the last time, I was with him. At Syracuse, he was an architecture student; president of our fraternity, (Phi Gamma Delta) in 1967-68; and a good friend to many. We worked together, to earn our board, and delivered New York Times, newspapers, on Sundays to earn some pocket money. We also, played together and dreamed together. News, of Dennis’s death, came to me in late-June, while I was visiting my then in-laws. I will never forget, the sense of shock and loss. As with others, who knew and loved Dennis, I think, of him often, sometime every day. Aloha, a nui loa and Perge! brother Dennis, Al Lono Lyman (aka Pookie at Syracuse) lymana001@hawaii.rr.com
Jun 12, 2007 |
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Millie Heitner Steiner
Reniets@aol.com
Mother
DENNIS' FATHER AT GRAVE-SITE
Dennis's father, was pastor, at Grace Lutheran Church, Cincinnati, OH at the time of Dennis' death. He had been asked, to have the closing prayer at Dennis's sister Susan's graduation, at Western Hills, in Cincinnati, the day after we were notified. He began, by saying, "Seven years ago, I had a similar position on the program of my son Dennis's graduation, from Curtis High School, in Staten Island, NY. I found the prayer, I used seven years ago, while going through my files, so I decided to use that prayer again." He made no mention, of Dennis' death. Following is a copy, of an article that appeared, in The Cincinnati Enquirer, regarding that prayer: It appeared for a time at the Western Hills, High School commencement, last week that those who would deny admission, to God to any public school function, were finally about to be successful. The traditional invocation and benediction were replaced in the program by a "Call to Appreciation" and a "Call to Duty." However, the Almighty, did manage to sneak into the early part of the program, in the course of the Pledge of Allegiance, which the assembled graduates and audience dutifully rendered, in its full form complete with reference to "one nation under God." But it was not until the closing moments of the ceremony that the omniscient and omnipresent presence, was clearly recognized by the Rev. Donald Heitner, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, in a form that could not be denied as an unmistakable "Call to Duty" singularly appropriate to the occasion. Speaking, as the father, of one of the graduates, Susan Heitner, he invoked the blessing, of the Almighty, on all the graduates and the assembly in the same words that he had used seven years earlier, at the graduation of his son, Dennis, from Curtis High School, in Staten Island, N. Y.. Word of Lt. Heitner's death, as the result of battle action, in the Cambodian, "fish hook," sector, had come to the family only the day before. This benediction and the choral response that followed, afforded an impressive testimony to the hope for mortal life and the faith in an eternal life, without which any "Call to Duty," would be empty rhetoric for those who profess belief in a Supreme Power. We would share Pastor Heitner's, words, of hope and faith with our readers as an inspiring "Call to Duty," to be heard and answered. He prayed: "Gracious God and Lord: Thou, hast endowed the children, of men with hearts and minds that can respond to the glories of Thy creation and be useful in service to one another. Grant to these graduates, of Western Hills High, a recognition of Thy goodness and an appreciation of Thy guidance, so that, as they go forth from these halls of learning, they may employ their talents in measures pleasing to Thee and beneficial to their fellowmen. Remove all pride and self-sufficiency from their hearts, and give them a spirit of tolerance and temperance, of love and loyalty, that they may walk according, to Thy precepts in the pathways of peace. Guide and guard those, that teach and those that learn, that this nation, under Thee, may continue to enjoy Thy benediction. Help us all to grow, in knowledge and understanding, in gratitude and service, so that Thy name, may be glorified and Thy people live in fellowship and harmony ever promoting those ideals, that are beneficial and enduring. All that is essential for our own and our fellowman's welfare, grant us according to Thy mercy and for Thy name's sake."
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 |
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Peggy Moller McCarthy
totem45456@aol.com
Close friends in high school
8542 N Farview Dr
Scottsdale,AZ 85258 USA
Dennis Heitner, truly the nicest person I have ever known in my lifetime.
When I learned of Dennis's death I was angry that God would take someone who had so much to offer mankind. I think about him so often, and how, having him as such a good friend meant to me during high school years. We had some wonderful times together, he took me to my first real play and I tried to act like such a big shot, and pretended that this was just another date. Dennis will always be loved and remember in anyone's heart who ever knew him. Remember the mouse in Kresgies (wrong spelling) Den, and what a bad boy you were, but was that ever fun, not something a minister's son would have done, but that was the part of Dennis that made him human. Will always love you. Peggy Moller McCarthy
Tuesday, January 11, 2000 |
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John Creskey
JECres@banet.net
A friend from Curtis High School, Class of 1963, Staten Island, New York
16 Pine Road
Valhalla,NY 10595 USA
Dennis, You Are Missed
I just found out today Monday 1/10/2000 about Dennis. The message came from Peggy Moller McCarthy also a Curtis High School 1963 grad. Dennis was such a great guy in so many ways. I am so sorry. I am so shocked. I lost another good friend, Major Gerry Crosson, who graduated from Port Richmond High School, as he was shot down by a SAM in a F-4 over Vietnam. They are on The Wall. together. I too am a Air Force Veteran during Vietnam from 1969 to 1973. Dennis, you are forever with God. John Creskey
Monday, January 10, 2000 |
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