Dan “Danny” Steven Allen was the son of Edgar Plimpton Allen and Vivian Dora Collins.

-Died at the age of 18 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam
-Cause of Death: Misadventure, Ground Casualty
-Service Occupation: Mortarman
-Company G, 2nd Batallion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division
-Parents: Edgar and Vivian Allen
-Siblings: Joan, Sue, Janet, David, and Joey
-Nephew: Jeffrey Allen Brown

Company G 4 Marine 3 Marine Division

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, USA, Plot Section Z

The Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 42, 1966
A tragic mistake in Vietnam has cost the life of an 18-yar-old South Knoxville Marine. He was Pfc. Dan Steven (Danny) Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar P. Allen, 1140 Baker Ave. The family received word yesterday that Pfc. Allen was checking the defensive perimeter of his company’s position Sunday night when a sentry, mistaking him for a hostile force, fired on him, fatally wounding him in the neck. Pfc. Allen had been in Vietnam only three weeks. Before entering the service in February, the South High graduate was a News-Sentinel carrier salesman. He was in G co., 2nd Battalion of the 4th Marine Division. Pfc. Allen’s father and mother expressed surprise and shock today at published reports that the son had complained about how the Vietnamese campaign was being conducted and about conditions there.
“Those reports were without foundation,” Mr. Allen, the father declared. “We feel that our son died gallantly, in a righteous cause, and that he gave his life for all of us.” The young man also leaves three sister, Mrs. Cecil Brown, and Misses Joan and Janet Allen; two brothers, David and Joey Allen; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Allen, Jefferson City, and Mrs. Emma Collins, Copper Hill. He was a member of the Gospel Baptist Church.

His best friend Pfc. Billy Joe Harrison was killed a few days later.

  • Rank: Private First Class
  • Date of birth:
    • 20 January 1948
  • Date of death: 21 August 1966
  • County: Knox
  • Hometown: Knoxville
  • Service Branch: Marine Corps
  • Division/Assignment: 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division
  • Conflict: Vietnam
  • Burial/Memorial Location: Woodlawn Cemetery, Knoxville, TN
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar XXIII, Top Panel
  • Sponsored by: George Lefler

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