Lance Corporal David Oliver Auen, USMC (1949-1968) In Memoriam

Dave Auen was a bright, articulate, handsome young man when he left his home with Mom and Dad, Sister and Brothers in this tiny Western Pennsylvania town to become a Marine. He was only 19 and in an even tinier place called My Loc not far from An Hoa Viet Nam when he was shot and killed on June 7, 1968.

What has he sacrificed? Well, certainly a family, children, jobs, money, property, fortune, fame but certainly not glory. He was bathed in it on that hot summer day so far from home.

But more than that I think we missed out on the contributions Dave Auen would have made to our lives. He loved animals and raising them as well as Industrial Arts, Drafting, Electronics, working with metal and wood.

For all these years he has been looking down at us. Now he has been joined by his Mom and Dad - they are a family again. Some would say Semper Fi, Dave. Many of my classmates would say, Thank You Dave for all of your contributions and the privilege of knowing you, if even just for a short period of time.

Dave Auen is buried at Blairsville Cemetery, Burrell Twp, Indiana County, Blairsville PA 15717. He has a Memorial near the Blairsville

Library on Walnut Street. His father was Gene Auen who passed away on February 25, 2005 at age 84. Dave's Mom, Iola Mikesell Auen, passed away on February 15, 1991. They too are interred in the Blairsville [PA] Cemetery. Dave is survived by two brothers, Donald G. Auen, of New Alexandria, PA and Dean K. Auen of Karphaus, PA and a sister, Daryl Auen Seitz of Sewickley, PA and many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles in the Indiana County area... He is sadly missed by those who knew him...