Scope and Contents

The collection consists of one photograph of David Dea being transported to an unidentified location in Vietnam. The photograph is dated ca. 1970-1971. Dea served as a radio/teletype specialist with the 299th Engineering Battalion in the Central Highlands from 1970 to 1971.

Biographical / Historical

David D. Dea was born in Lubbock, TX in July 1950. He served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps from June 1969 to March 1971. After boot camp at Fort Bliss in 1969 and receiving training at Radio School in Huachuca, AZ (1969) and in Radio Teletype at Communications Security School (1969-1970), he joined the 299th Engineering Battalion at Base Camp Quinyuan in Vietnam. He also spent time at Fire Base Anka Pass in the Central Highlands. With an MOS of 05C20 (Radio Teletype, Long Range Radio Communications, Radio Operator, Top Security Clearance), Dea worked as a Radio Operator on the fire base, where he was in charge of communications between the battalion, the fire base, in-field teams, an ROK unit attached to the fire base, air support, and Medevac in the area. He worked first as a Single Radio Operator in the field and on base camp at Anka Pass and then as a Senior Radio in Tactical Operations at the base camp.

Dea's tour in Vietnam was from April 1970 to March 1971. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist 4. He received the Vietnam Service Award. After the war, Dea went to Texas Tech University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 and a Masters in Mass Telecommunication in 1979.