Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Dennis Daniel

WWII | 781st Bomb Squadron, 465th Heavy Bomb Group, 15th Air Force

Dennis Daniel describes in detail his fifth bombing mission over Europe, during which his B-24 received heavy flak damage and threats from German fighters. (9:42)
Dennis Daniel remembers his time flying with the Tuskegee Airmen. (1:11)
Dennis Haines

Vietnam | C Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 199th Light Infantry Brigade

Recruit Dennis Haines wanted to go to airborne school but the Army gave him a choice. He could either go to airborne school or home for Christmas. He took the leave because he was worried he might not ever return. (4:12)
During Advanced Infantry Training, Dennis Haines remembers a problem with the bolt on the M-16 rifle. It would swell and stick. Fortunately, the problem was fixed before the rifles were deployed in the field. (5:27)
Arriving in Vietnam, Dennis Haines got a quick lesson in weapons safety when a soldier dropped a grenade in practice. He also met Jack Kirchner, who was from the same area at home and the two became great friends. (4:37)
In his first taste of action in Vietnam, Dennis Haines participated in the clearing of a large bunker complex. Inside, he spotted a Russian pistol just sitting there, begging to be a souvenir. (7:42)
Dennis Haines was assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam. The only brigade not attached to a division, the light infantry was so-named because they could move out on a mission at a moment’s notice. He describes the execution and fear of a frontal assault. (7:29)
Dennis Haines and his friend Jack Kirchner came across a Viet Cong bunker that they thought was empty. After Kirchner fired a shotgun round through a port, he turned to leave and was nearly cut in two by enemy rounds. (6:50)
After the Air Force came in and blew up the VC bunkers, Dennis Haines knew the job was coming that no one wanted to do: the body count. (3:56)
Dennis Haines had seen dead soldiers on stretchers but it was totally different with his friend Jack Kirchner. Dennis had been right there with him in the line of fire. He learned it was best not to be too close to your wartime comrades. (4:23)