"The Making and Un-making of a Marine"

Dave Deyo

This tribute was read at the opening day performance of Larry Winters' play, "Nothing Means Nothing."  Dave Deyo was present in the audience.

This play is dedicated to my dear friend Dave Deyo. Dave and I joined the Marine Corps in 1967 on the buddy plan. We survived Vietnam together and remain good buddies today. Dave is what some might call a low-key guy. Notice he's not sitting in the front row, not waving any flags to be noticed.  Therefore many of you may not know that he has done more to help veterans in our community than any individual I know. He has been the commander of the VFW several times and the kinds of things he does is to work tirelessly at pancake breakfast and at chicken suppers and to raise money that is then given to vets in need. He fields calls that come from family members of vets, vets in trouble, vets whose houses have burned down and vets who simply need to speak to someone. He goes to funerals of those vets who have passed and he organizes parades to honor vets like the one he just came from. All of this is done behind the scenes, with no fanfare and little notice. I would like to ask each person in this theater to stand and salute Dave Deyo and his work at being there for those of us that have needed him.

Thank you.

I would also like to let you know that a portion of the money collected tonight is going to an organization known as Soldier's Heart. I am honored to say that the founding members Kate Dahlstedt and Ed Tick are in our audience tonight.

Soldier's Heart is dedicated to our veterans' successful return. Soldier's Heart promotes and guides community-based efforts to heal the effects of war on those who served, their families and communities.  

Larry Winters USMC, Vietnam 1969-1970, Author of The Making and Unmaking of a Marine, subtitled One Man's Struggle for Forgiveness.