Dale Harry Haver was born on February 20, 1943, in Somerville, NJ, to Beulah and Harry Haver. He has an identical twin named Donald and, a brother and sister, Barry and Bonnie, also twins. When he was younger he played in the East Hunterdon Little League and was also a member of Whitehouse Boy Scout Troop 198 and later its Explorer Post.
While attending Hunterdon Central High School, he was a member of the football, basketball and track teams. He was also very good at playing the trumpet in the marching band. He graduated in 1961.
He attended the University of Montana where he played on the varsity football team for one year. He received a business administration degree and belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
After leaving college, he became a firefighter. He was employed by the US Forest Service as a smoke jumper – a firefighter who fights fires by air.
He entered the US Army in July 1967. He went to Fort Eustis, VA, to attend army transportation school. He then went on to Fort Walters, TX, for helicopter training. He took advanced helicopter training in Fort Rucker, AL, and then back to Fort Eustis for maintenance training and then to Vietnam on November 1, 1968. He attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT).
In Vietnam, he flew missions in the helicopter. His twin brother was also serving in the war. His parents were excited that Don had come back from the war unharmed and prayed that their other son would return safely also. With only six more months of service for Dale, his chances for returning safely were great.
Haver was flying a mission to rescue wounded soldiers when the helicopter’s engine shut down. He crawled to safety away from the crash. When he realized that his gunner was still inside and unconscious, he ran back to the helicopter. While he was inside, it exploded.
Haver suffered second and third degree burns over 70% of his body. He was hospitalized in a field hospital. Word was sent home to his parents, and on April 11, 1969, two days after being in the hospital, Haver died. He is buried at Locust Grove Cemetery in Quakertown, NJ.
Haver performed 25 aerial missions over hostile territory. He was awarded 2 Air Medals, a Bronze Star and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Sources: Reading-Fleming Middle School and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
