Dennis Kabara died in ThauThien,South Vietnam. I ran into Dennis at "The Office" bar in late December 1969. We shared stories over a beer or 2 and wished each other the best before he left for overseas. I had recently completed my tour of duty with the U S Navy in Morocco. I remember that evening very well. Little did I realize he would lose his life a couple weeks later.I was a fortunate one that returned. I will always remember and be eternally grateful to those who made this ultimate sacrafice.
Denny and I roomed together our freshmen year at Univ, of Illinois in Garner 2 East dorm. Denny took Russian language course 101 taught by a beautiful Russian woman grad student and fell madly in love with her and Russian vodka. He claimed she could out drink him when it came to vodka. They dated for a while and when she broke it off, he was devasted.
When Univ. of Illinois was updating their old football stadium called Memorial Stadium " to honor the deceased U of I student-soldiers of all of the World Wars," the Alumni Association established a website and a stone column at the stadium to honor U of I students who died as soldiers during the Vietnam War. I contacted the Alumni Association and brought Denny's sacrifice to their attention. I asked that Denny's name be enshrined on the column at the stadium. I provided them wih information regarding his freshmen year at Illinois and Denny's brother Rick also provided information about Denny. I am proud to say that Denny's name is on the column and website.
In 1970, when Denny's death in Vietnam was reported in the Beacon News, my father was the Commander of an American Legion Post in Aurora. My dad knew Denny through me. He had the Legion Post hold a ceremony to honor Denny's sacrifice.
Dennis, Dave Stover and myself grew up on the same block and were friends all the way through high school. he was a great guy and friend. I was one of the lucky ones who came back also having been there from Feb. 69 to Jan. 70.
At the reunion, a book with pictures and news articles was placed by his picture display.( to be posted too.)
From conversation with his brother, Dan Kabara , from Oswego
Denny's best friend and best man at his wedding was our classmate, Dave Wade.( now deceased) They went to Aurora University and used to refer to it as "R U" (Rora University) Dan also remembered friends, Chuck Cadieux and Dave Stover. Denny played the coronet and the accordian. He was part Polish and part Cherokee. He was allergic to wool, which today, may have kept him out of the military. The Army had to give him a shot periodically because his uniform was wool. Dan remembered the day they heard he died. Dan was 14 at the time. He came home from school and found the house locked. He didn't know why and waitied in their extra car for his parents to get home. His parents had driven over to Peggy Kabara's home to tell her that her husband had been killed. They were only married a month when Denny was shipped out to Vietnam. Dennis had been wounded already, but wanted to go out to help his Army buddies the day he was killed. Dan named his son, Ryan Dennis, after his brother. Ryan is very interested in the person he is named after and took his dad on a surprise trip to Washington D.C. to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Ryan had seen it before, but his father had only seen the "Moving Wall". Dan was moved to see it and was glad that, with a ladder, he could touch the name. Dan said that he knows his parents were able to talk to the parents of Bill DiSantis, (who also attended Aurora University with Denny all four years.) Bill's starting date of tour was January 10, 1970, the day Denny was killed.
Bruce Neubauer
Dennis died while serving in Viet Nam
Dennis Sheble
Dennis Kabara died in ThauThien,South Vietnam. I ran into Dennis at "The Office" bar in late December 1969. We shared stories over a beer or 2 and wished each other the best before he left for overseas. I had recently completed my tour of duty with the U S Navy in Morocco. I remember that evening very well. Little did I realize he would lose his life a couple weeks later.I was a fortunate one that returned. I will always remember and be eternally grateful to those who made this ultimate sacrafice.
Ric Jorgensen
Denny and I roomed together our freshmen year at Univ, of Illinois in Garner 2 East dorm. Denny took Russian language course 101 taught by a beautiful Russian woman grad student and fell madly in love with her and Russian vodka. He claimed she could out drink him when it came to vodka. They dated for a while and when she broke it off, he was devasted.
When Univ. of Illinois was updating their old football stadium called Memorial Stadium " to honor the deceased U of I student-soldiers of all of the World Wars," the Alumni Association established a website and a stone column at the stadium to honor U of I students who died as soldiers during the Vietnam War. I contacted the Alumni Association and brought Denny's sacrifice to their attention. I asked that Denny's name be enshrined on the column at the stadium. I provided them wih information regarding his freshmen year at Illinois and Denny's brother Rick also provided information about Denny. I am proud to say that Denny's name is on the column and website.
In 1970, when Denny's death in Vietnam was reported in the Beacon News, my father was the Commander of an American Legion Post in Aurora. My dad knew Denny through me. He had the Legion Post hold a ceremony to honor Denny's sacrifice.
Austin Bagby
Dennis, Dave Stover and myself grew up on the same block and were friends all the way through high school. he was a great guy and friend. I was one of the lucky ones who came back also having been there from Feb. 69 to Jan. 70.
Warren Bagby
Joan Glasco (Johnson)
At the reunion, a book with pictures and news articles was placed by his picture display.( to be posted too.)
From conversation with his brother, Dan Kabara , from Oswego
Denny's best friend and best man at his wedding was our classmate, Dave Wade.( now deceased) They went to Aurora University and used to refer to it as "R U" (Rora University) Dan also remembered friends, Chuck Cadieux and Dave Stover. Denny played the coronet and the accordian. He was part Polish and part Cherokee. He was allergic to wool, which today, may have kept him out of the military. The Army had to give him a shot periodically because his uniform was wool. Dan remembered the day they heard he died. Dan was 14 at the time. He came home from school and found the house locked. He didn't know why and waitied in their extra car for his parents to get home. His parents had driven over to Peggy Kabara's home to tell her that her husband had been killed. They were only married a month when Denny was shipped out to Vietnam. Dennis had been wounded already, but wanted to go out to help his Army buddies the day he was killed. Dan named his son, Ryan Dennis, after his brother. Ryan is very interested in the person he is named after and took his dad on a surprise trip to Washington D.C. to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Ryan had seen it before, but his father had only seen the "Moving Wall". Dan was moved to see it and was glad that, with a ladder, he could touch the name. Dan said that he knows his parents were able to talk to the parents of Bill DiSantis, (who also attended Aurora University with Denny all four years.) Bill's starting date of tour was January 10, 1970, the day Denny was killed.
James Thomas
Thank you, Joan, for doing the research and writing this excellent update. It is really appreciated.
I remember occassionally giving Dennis a ride home during thunderstorms. He was a great guy and truly missed.