Dennis James Veater

18 years passed since the day my life took a turn. I can say it was a tragedy. Our loss of your life, will forever be the turning point in mine. I felt pain that I didn´t even know existed. I saw hurt that could crumble the strongest concrete and turn it to hello. From that pain, it has brought me down a journey that has shaped me, and built me into the Man I am today. I have been through relationships that have came and gone, Loved and divorced, had happiness and sorrow, days of succcess...

I feel stupid typing this because I still can´t believe this happened. I don´t want to type this. I don´t understand why this happened to you. When I found out, it was a week after I got back to the states. I heard it happened on uranium road. I remember how slow our convoys rolled through there because of all the pot holes. I will never understand why you are not around to play with your son. I am so sorry bro. I don´t understand why. Rest easy bro.

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.

George Patton.

No truer words could be said for Dennis.

Happy Birthday, Dennis. Thinking about you more today. I couldn’t remember for a second who was the older twin but I figured it out. Miss you, man. I’ll forever cherish the times back in Oki with you, Adam, Mark, Mic and the others. You kept most of us on the straight and narrow. Keep shining your light on us.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't reflect back on those days training prior to leaving for Iraq. Met a lot of new brothers and sisters. We had fun and sorrow. Dennis will always be in the hearts of everyone who knew him and served with him. Semper Fi.

Unfortunately I had to recently attended a funeral for a high school friend and fellow Marine Chris Desando. He lost his battle with PTSD but was so proud to be a Marine. As I sat in the church I began to think back to high school lunch and study hall. Myself, Dennis and Chris were all good friends. We sat in study hall and lunch together. I can remember one snowy day sitting in lunch, when my twin sister wanted to bring her boyfriend to prom. He was 20 and unable to purchase a ticket. Dennis...

It has been over ten years since but I never forget and always think about you. I always remember coming back to my hooch to see you playing pocket tanks on my computer. Miss you Brother. Semper FI

Been 10 years now, I often find myself thinking about my last mission with you in February 2007, how we all smiled and were in such great spirits while we talked about our plans for homecoming. Hearing you talk about how much you were looking forward to meeting your newborn son always comes to my mind first when I think about our deployment. I wish your son could have met you because you were such a awesome, fun-loving, positive guy that everybody looked up to out there. I'm forever proud to...

Happy Birthday Marine! Dennis, you are missed so badly, we are all so Proud of you! I miss you and speak of you often, you will never be forgotten!
Semper Fi
Outstanding Marine and Nephew!