Dan B. Gyllenskog, 65, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Logan, Utah, on Sept. 21, 1948, to Glen (Duke) and Laurel Bateman Gyllenskog.
He attended schools in Smithfield and Richmond, Utah, graduating from Sky View High School in 1966.
He enlisted at age 17 in the United States Marine Corps and was a member of the first Honor platoon of Marine recruits since World War II.
Dan was a proficient High School tuba player and inquired with the Band Master Sergeant about becoming a member of the band and he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division from the end of 1966 into 1967.
The Band master wanted Dan to attend the Naval School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia but Dan insisted that he wanted to be sent to Vietnam.
With the school assignment a certainty Dan informed the Band Master that he would intentionally flunk out and that is exactly what happened.
With calculated deliberateness he failed the classes and was sent, much to his longing and preference, directly to Vietnam.
He was stationed in in Vietnam from from July 25, 1968 to August 1969
On February 23rd, 1969 the Viet Cong began an assault reminiscent of the 1968 Tet Offensive.
Three Marines in Dan’s unit were killed in the attack and Dan took an AK 47 round through his right shoulder which “made a small hole going in but a much bigger one going out”.
All of the nearby medical facilities were full and Dan was evacuated to Guam instead of Yokosuka, Japan where he would have rather gone. This combat injury resulted in Dan being awarded the Purple Heart.
Forty two days later he was sent back to his former unit in Vietnam via Okinawa.
In August of 1969 he flew back to the states landing at Travis AFB, California.
With many anti-was protesters venting their anger over the Vietnam War, the troops left the plane through a 10 foot high fenced corridor constructed specifically to separate the returning veterans from the war protesters.
It was not a very pleasant “Welcome Home”.
Dan was also awarded the Navy Commendation with “V” device; Combat Action; Good Conduct; National Defense, Vietnam Service; Vietnam Campaign and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm medals for his service.
He married his eternal companion, Patricia Ann Larson, in the Logan LDS Temple on Feb. 12, 1971.
They are the parents of five children: Michael (Jennifer), Dani (Ross Hart), James (Wendy), Natalie (Blair Higley), and Jared (Brynn).
He worked as an apprentice and journeyman plumber for Hilco Plumbing for 13 years and retired from the United States Postal Service after 27 years.
Throughtout his life, he actively served and participated in the following post active military activities:
1. Active member of Smithfield American Legion Post 58 for over 40 years and served as Commander for over 30 years.
2. Was a voluntary service officer for Veteran Disability Claims and helped many acquire their benefits.
3. Arranged for, staffed and participated in funeral color guards for veterans throughout the region.
4. Was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and served as an officer for the Department of Utah and Chapter 995
5. Worked tirelessly to improve the lives of homeless veterans and acquired many donations for the Fisher House in Salt Lake City
6. Was a charter member of the Cache Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12076 and currently serving as a service officer and elected position as adjutant.
7. Was one of the two originators for the Utah Chapter of the Wounded Warrior Fund
8. In September 2011, he brought the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall replica to Cache Valley and provided security and staffing for the event. The Wall held special meaning to Dan due to the fact that he always said "my name should be on there," as he lost many of his close friends and "brothers" on a day he considered his second birthday, Feb. 23, 1969
9. He was an athletic booster and participated in the Veteran's assemblies at Sky View High School for many years.
10. He donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross.
11. Each Memorial Day he personally made sure there was an American flag on every veteran's grave in the Smithfield Cemetery.
12. He was actively involved with acquiring toys and donations for Toys for Tots.
Dan considered it a great privilege to participate with the Patriot Guard Riders. Their motto, "Standing for those who stood for us," is what he always advocated through his example of patriotism and loyalty
Footnote: I do not ever recall personally meeting or interacting with Dan, while I was attending SkyView High School. I just happen to see/read his obituary in the Deseret News last May. When I read from his obituary that he had served in Vietnam, I started to do some internet searching regarding some of the comments about his life. What I found was a internet document entitled:
Marine Corps League - Cpl Gerald Max Rich Detachment #1352 -
Dan and I played tuba together in the band. He was a great guy and always lots of fun. I ran into him a few times after graduation and after he returned from Vietnam. He always cooked Dutch oven for the reunions .
Don Pratt
DAN GYLLENSKOG
VIETNAM VETERAN AND PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT
Dan B. Gyllenskog, 65, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Logan, Utah, on Sept. 21, 1948, to Glen (Duke) and Laurel Bateman Gyllenskog.
He attended schools in Smithfield and Richmond, Utah, graduating from Sky View High School in 1966.
He enlisted at age 17 in the United States Marine Corps and was a member of the first Honor platoon of Marine recruits since World War II.
Dan was a proficient High School tuba player and inquired with the Band Master Sergeant about becoming a member of the band and he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division from the end of 1966 into 1967.
The Band master wanted Dan to attend the Naval School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia but Dan insisted that he wanted to be sent to Vietnam.
With the school assignment a certainty Dan informed the Band Master that he would intentionally flunk out and that is exactly what happened.
With calculated deliberateness he failed the classes and was sent, much to his longing and preference, directly to Vietnam.
He was stationed in in Vietnam from from July 25, 1968 to August 1969
On February 23rd, 1969 the Viet Cong began an assault reminiscent of the 1968 Tet Offensive.
Three Marines in Dan’s unit were killed in the attack and Dan took an AK 47 round through his right shoulder which “made a small hole going in but a much bigger one going out”.
All of the nearby medical facilities were full and Dan was evacuated to Guam instead of Yokosuka, Japan where he would have rather gone. This combat injury resulted in Dan being awarded the Purple Heart.
Forty two days later he was sent back to his former unit in Vietnam via Okinawa.
In August of 1969 he flew back to the states landing at Travis AFB, California.
With many anti-was protesters venting their anger over the Vietnam War, the troops left the plane through a 10 foot high fenced corridor constructed specifically to separate the returning veterans from the war protesters.
It was not a very pleasant “Welcome Home”.
Dan was also awarded the Navy Commendation with “V” device; Combat Action; Good Conduct; National Defense, Vietnam Service; Vietnam Campaign and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm medals for his service.
He married his eternal companion, Patricia Ann Larson, in the Logan LDS Temple on Feb. 12, 1971.
They are the parents of five children: Michael (Jennifer), Dani (Ross Hart), James (Wendy), Natalie (Blair Higley), and Jared (Brynn).
He worked as an apprentice and journeyman plumber for Hilco Plumbing for 13 years and retired from the United States Postal Service after 27 years.
Throughtout his life, he actively served and participated in the following post active military activities:
1. Active member of Smithfield American Legion Post 58 for over 40 years and served as Commander for over 30 years.
2. Was a voluntary service officer for Veteran Disability Claims and helped many acquire their benefits.
3. Arranged for, staffed and participated in funeral color guards for veterans throughout the region.
4. Was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and served as an officer for the Department of Utah and Chapter 995
5. Worked tirelessly to improve the lives of homeless veterans and acquired many donations for the Fisher House in Salt Lake City
6. Was a charter member of the Cache Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12076 and currently serving as a service officer and elected position as adjutant.
7. Was one of the two originators for the Utah Chapter of the Wounded Warrior Fund
8. In September 2011, he brought the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall replica to Cache Valley and provided security and staffing for the event. The Wall held special meaning to Dan due to the fact that he always said "my name should be on there," as he lost many of his close friends and "brothers" on a day he considered his second birthday, Feb. 23, 1969
9. He was an athletic booster and participated in the Veteran's assemblies at Sky View High School for many years.
10. He donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross.
11. Each Memorial Day he personally made sure there was an American flag on every veteran's grave in the Smithfield Cemetery.
12. He was actively involved with acquiring toys and donations for Toys for Tots.
Dan considered it a great privilege to participate with the Patriot Guard Riders. Their motto, "Standing for those who stood for us," is what he always advocated through his example of patriotism and loyalty
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Footnote: I do not ever recall personally meeting or interacting with Dan, while I was attending SkyView High School. I just happen to see/read his obituary in the Deseret News last May. When I read from his obituary that he had served in Vietnam, I started to do some internet searching regarding some of the comments about his life. What I found was a internet document entitled:
Marine Corps League - Cpl Gerald Max Rich Detachment #1352 -
Cache Valley Utah
DAN GYLLENSKOG
1967-1970
VIETNAM
http://www.mcl1352cachevalleyutah.com/index.php?pageName=members_military_histories&postID=15
It was from this internet document (and his obituary) that I learned a great deal about Dan and his personal committment to his:
Faith - Family - Community - Country - and His Fellowmen
His life's story exmplifies the greatness of the SkyView Class of 1966.
Don Pratt
Stan Postma
Dan and I played tuba together in the band. He was a great guy and always lots of fun. I ran into him a few times after graduation and after he returned from Vietnam. He always cooked Dutch oven for the reunions .
He will be missed.