The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Daniel Ward Gleason, who died in the service of his country on February 23rd, 1969 in Darlac Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Daniel was 25 years of age. He was from Bay City, Michigan. Daniel is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 31W, Line 1.

The decorations earned by PFC Daniel Ward Gleason include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

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9 April 1969

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Gleason,

I'm sorry we haven't answered your letter earlier, but at times it's almost impossible to write.

On Feb 22, 1969, at 2:30 AM our Company came under attack by intense rocket and automatic weapons fire. Dan and five others were selected to counterattack the enemy in hopes of getting time to organize and hit the enemy back. At the time Dan and one other man were hit with automatic weapons fire. Dan died instantly and so did the man next to him. We finally drove the enemy off after losing two killed and eight wounded, including our company commander who was hit in the leg.

Dan was a great asset to the company, and he was liked and respected by all those near him. The platoon was hit very hard by his loss and the loss of the other man. Dan fought like a man and died bravely as a man. The morale of our men was very low after that night and Dan Gleason's name will not be forgotten by those who fought, worked and laughed with him. We share your grief and if there's anything we can do, please notify us.

Sincerely,

2 PLT
Company C 2/35

Pat Little PSG
SP4 Ross Spradley
Sgt Duane D Cooper
SP4 Richard Harvey
SP4 Joe Bradley
SP4 Joe Heitzer
PFC Kenneth Kennedy
Sgt Blaine Shafer
PFC Tom Dey
Sgt James Robinson
Sgt Gerry Van Dyke
SP4 Norman Metcalf
PFC Gary Kincade
Sgt Carl Stutz
PFC John D Hammet
PFC James E Hawkins
PFC Thorny Isom
SP4 Goulish Rhoades
SP4 Wayne Sykes