CHAPMAN, DENNIS STEVEN

Dennis Steven “Denny� Chapman, 72, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 in American Fork Canyon, Utah.  He was born at home in Antrim County, Michigan on December 24, 1947.

He is survived by his wife Ruth Evelyn “Lyn� Christenson, son John (Shiloam Koenig) Chapman and their children Skyler, Casey, Courtney, and Saylor; son Scott (Tiffany Lassetter) Chapman and their children, Ayden, Jacob and Adeline; daughter Analee “Ana� Chapman (Kyle) Ballif and their children, Boston, Kyler and Caden; son Todd Chapman;

Also survived by brother Vernon Edward (Kathy Kennedy) Chapman; sister Linda Rae (Roger) Yorde; brother Kenneth Roger (Cathleen Kirchofer) Chapman; brother David Paul Chapman; and sister Valerie Jean Chapman.  Preceded in death by his first wife Marilyn Louise Schuldt, mother Ruth Mary Ball, and father Edward DeLoss Chapman.

Dear Reader,

We briefly considered editing everything down to a single document, but that decision would rob each writer of their unique tone and tenor.

As such, we’ve noted text and authors below, and their words are included generally as originally penned.  The long history of military service written newspaper-style was found on Dennis’ home computer, after his passing, and was last edited by him on February 8, 2020.  We’ve included it here in its entirety.  He rarely spoke of his time in the service, so we’ll allow his own words to paint the picture of that time in his life.  We’re not sure if he planned to write more about his time in Vietnam, but the working title of this next document is ‘A Spook is Born.’

From Dennis himself:

Dennis served his country as a Marine.  After graduation as the Platoon and Series Honor Man in Platoon 3083, MCRD San Diego in October, 1966, Dennis Chapman had been meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class and anxiously awaited orders for his training assignment.  With the other eighty-two recruits in his platoon Chapman had taken a series of tests to determine their ability to learn, areas in which they showed strengths or weakness, and overall aptitude.

Most members of his platoon received orders to Ground Forces WestPac (Western Pacific).  Those souls learned they would be in the Republic of Vietnam in three months with an MOS (military occupation specialty) of 0311 making them the all-important riflemen of the United States Marine Corps.

Their next stop would be Camp Pendleton, California just up the coast from San Diego where they would become very familiar with all of the organic weapons of the Infantry
Marine.

Chapman learned his next duty station was to be at the NavComTraCen in Pensacola, Florida.  Being relatively new in the military he had no idea what the acronym meant but learned he was to be trained as a 2571- Special Radio Operator, another unfamiliar term.  He also learned Pensacola was where Navy and Marine aviators were trained.

His stop in Camp Pendleton was only two weeks since he was not going to Ground Forces WestPac.  There he would fire weapons for familiarization including the 3.5-inch rocket launcher, M-60 machine gun, BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), hand grenades, and M-1 rifle for night firing training with tracer ammunition.

Chapman packed away all his worldly possession in a sea bag and satchel including his Dress Blues, a uniform he had earned as the Platoon Honor Man.  He had been the only Marine in his platoon to wear Dress Blues at the graduation ceremonies where he was also recognized as the high Platoon shooter and the high Series Shooter.

In Pensacola he was a member of Company K, Marine Support Battalion.  That battalion is now called the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion.  Chapman was trained to intercept communications between Russian military units.  While there he was promoted to Lance Corporal. Graduating first in his class of sailors and Marines he was then meritoriously promoted to Corporal.  At that point Chapman had been a Marine for nine months.


From Pensacola Chapman moved to Company L, Marine Support Battalion, Hanza, and Okinawa, Japan where he focused on communications involving the Chinese Navy and Chinese shipping interests.

After eighteen months in the Orient, Sgt. Chapman was transferred to Second Radio Battalion, Second Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  Stateside duty was not what Chapman was interested in doing since it did not involve active operations against enemies of the United States.  He extended his three-year enlistment by one year and was transferred to H & S Company, Second Radio Battalion, Republic of Vietnam.

While in Vietnam he analyzed communications between units of the North Vietnam Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC).  Analysis of those communications included the use of airborne radio direction finding (ARDF) equipment to triangulate the locations of those units.  Airstrikes, Naval gunfire, artillery, or mortar attacks would then be used to eliminate the enemy, unless it was more productive to continue to intercept those communications to determine the NVA and VC intent.

After Vietnam, Sgt. Chapman returned to Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan.  He completed post high school education at Brigham Young University earning Bachelors and Masters degrees.  While at the university Chapman was promoted to Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

He was an educator and administrator in public education for thirty years.  In his last year of teaching Chapman attended the Peace Officers Training course and Utah Valley State College and subsequently became a deputy for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office where he served for thirteen years, mostly as a Patrol Deputy.

Chapman penned the autobiographical novel, The Autumn Marine, so his children and grandchildren would know what life as a United States Marine was like.  It was so effective, his youngest son became a Marine after graduation from MCRD, San Diego.  At the time of writing the volume he was not able to discuss what he did while on deployment as a Marine.  In the summer of 2018 Chapman learned his military mission had been declassified and he was able to explain what he had not told them for so many years.

From his son, John:

Service to others, he felt, was best performed continually, privately, and with neither fanfare nor recognition.  A description of his accomplishments and contributions in this community would fill volumes, and, ironically, be precisely the opposite of his every intention.  He seemed to consciously avoid the spotlight, while at the same time appearing in peoples’ lives at precisely the times and circumstances they required.

As a young man, he traveled to Vietnam with the US Marine Corps.  To our best knowledge, he could never express to his parents the reasons which compelled him to serve there.  He once mentioned, shortly after 9/11, as the country was so briefly and tragically unified, that he would reenlist the next day if he were younger. He never spoke of his time as a Marine, except in very vague ways.  Much of what we know of his service was learned from records he stored but never shared.  They were found, neatly organized, shortly after his passing.  The unit he served with was highly classified until very recently, and appears to have played critical roles in the ebb and flow of allied success in the region.  More importantly, his time abroad either taught him to live with honor, or reinforced an existing moral compass.  Probably both.

While in Vietnam, he became acquainted with both his future wife, Marilyn Schuldt, and his future religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Those with whom he crossed paths know of his gentle nature and quiet dignity.  He was a teacher, first and always.

From his son, Scott:

After serving his country for a time he continued his education partially in Law School and at Brigham Young University finishing education degrees at both the Bachelors and Masters level.  For 30 years he was a teacher and administrator throughout Utah County, being a positive role model and influence in the lives of the thousands of children with whom he came in contact.

Other interests and activities that kept him busy included: working with Utah County Search and Rescue, training to climb Mount Everest with the Utahn’s on Everest group, and working as a State and County delegate for the Utah County Republican Party.

For 6 decades he was involved with the Boy Scouts of America.  He started with Troop 35 in Traverse City, MI.  He earned his Eagle Scout while in that troop with John A. Maxbauer as his Scoutmaster.  He fell in love with the high mountain country of New Mexico as he worked on staff at Philmont Scout Ranch and later went through Walking Woodbadge.  The love he had was passed to his children who all had opportunities to be involved with the ranch.  After a season away he resumed activity with the Boy Scouts as he became involved with Troop 999 and then Troop 1250 with the Utah National Parks Council.  Many grand adventures were had with his boys as they went around the world to different activities - National Jamborees - participants and on staff, International Jamborees, NOAC conferences, Summer Camps across the west.  His time of service was remembered as he was presented the Silver Beaver award by the council in 1998.

He loved being outside at his home as the hummingbirds flittered and fluttered around.  He may have had a monopoly on a 4 block radius for all the hummingbirds in the area due to the proliferation of feeders he had placed around the house.  Great joy was had in making his gardens grow to provide beauty and food to the surrounding neighborhood. Somebody kept fertilizing his lawn and he relished the challenge of keeping the grass under control.

He never missed an important event in his children and grandchildren’s lives.  He was an excellent teacher and loved to tell stories, just ask any “Hero.�  He loved big or interesting words, and taught his kids and grandkids to play cribbage.  He loved to ride his motorcycle and go fishing.

From his daughter Analee:

As I sit in the same chair that Dad spent countless hours in researching our family history, I can’t help but wonder how in the world I am supposed to sum up the life of an amazing, incredible man in just a few sentences.  Dad is the most Christlike person any of us knows.  He spent his life teaching and serving those around him, all without fanfare or desire for recognition.  He always, always put others’ needs before his own, and he was always there for anyone who needed help.

Some of my fondest memories were of needing to talk to him and finding him in his favorite spot on the living room couch, reading a book.  I would sit on the chair facing him and he’d put his book down and wait for me to tell him anything that I needed to, and we would talk as long as I wanted.  That was Dad. Always there, always listening.  And not just for me, but for our whole family and for so many others.

The lives that he has touched are innumerable and we are so very, very blessed to be able to call him husband, dad, grandpa, and friend.  Semper fi, Dad. Until we meet again.

From his son, Todd:

'To Protect and Serve' are words he lived by.  When he was getting ready to retire from his 30-year teaching career it was no surprise to anyone that he was not going to be content just sitting around the house.  He made the decision to go through the Police Academy at Utah Valley University at the bouncy young age of 55.  Not only did he complete the course, he was chosen as class leader and graduated as such.

Upon graduation he began a career with the Utah County Sheriff's Office in the patrol division.  He kept a personal goal when he had someone pulled over, regardless of what the offending party had done, he did his very best to get the driver to say 'Thank You' before they parted ways.  The vast majority of the time, he was successful.  This was the type of example Dad was always set for those around him.

Regardless of his title, be it Boy Scout, Scout Leader, United States Marine, Teacher, Deputy, Grandpa or Dad, he always put others before himself.  This was how he lived, constantly striving to make the lives of those around him better.

A scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.  This is the Scout's Law and this is the way he lived every day of his life.

From his wife, Lyn:

Dennis and I first met working Wilderness and Pioneer Youth Conferences for Brigham Young University.  Our paths crossed again when we were in the same EMT class, and finally as teachers in the Provo School District.  As teacher leaders in our respective schools we attended weekly meetings for the district.  At the time his wife, Marilyn, was in the last stages of her battle with cancer.  I was teaching at Edgemont School where John was in first grade.  He was the one to bring us together after Marilyn’s passing.  We were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 11, 1985, and added Todd to our family in 1987.  Dennis was so proud of all of his children and loved them dearly.

During the past 35 years, we have worked together to raise our family and have shared many happy and peaceful moments.  Since our retirements seven years ago, we have traveled to our favorite places, worked in our yard and garden, and spent many, many hours doing genealogical work.  Dennis alone has indexed over 500,000 records and added 81,006 people to our family tree.  But, the biggest blessing for us has been the opportunity to serve together as ordinance workers in the Temple.

Dennis was a man of noble character with unselfish desires, and was fiercely loyal in all aspects of his life.  I have never met anyone with more integrity and honesty, nor anyone who has read more books or has a larger vocabulary.  He is the light of my life, my everything, and I will miss him dearly until we meet again.

In the words of my best friend, Denny, TTFN (Ta-ta for now)...

A service for family and close friends was held Wednesday, July 8 at Utah Valley Mortuary in Lindon, Utah.  Interment at East Lawn Memorial Hills in Provo, Utah.  Military honors rendered by the United States Marine Corps, with additional support from the Utah County Sheriff’s Department.


Posted By: Administrator - 07-22-2020
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