Dennis Linn Craver

Dennis Craver grew up in the New Sharon area and graduated from North Mahaska High School in 1969. He enlisted in the Army in March 1970 and trained in field artillery. His tour in Vietnam started August 27th, 1970 with Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery. While in base camp, a mortar round exploded killing Private First Class Craver and two other soldiers. Initially the Army reported that explosion was the result of friendly fire. The incident was reviewed in 1997, at the prompting of an official in the unit, and Craver’s death was determined to have been the result of incoming enemy fire. As a result, his family received a Purple Heart to recognize death by hostile fire. Craver was buried in the New Sharon Friends Cemetery.