The medal was awarded on June 6, 1966 -- ten days before Deane would have turned 22 if he had lived.

For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: On this date (April 11, 1966), Private First Class Van Dyke's company was engaged in fierce combat by an estimated Viet Cong battalion. During the initial assault, Private First Class Van Dyke effectively placed heavy volumes of fire on Viet Cong snipers who were inflicting numerous casualties on the American forces. The Viet Cong singled out his machine gun position, and Private First Class Van Dyke was wounded during their fierce concentration of fire on his area. Disregarding his wound, he crawled forward of the perimeter to rescue several of his injured comrades. While performing this gallant and selfless action, he was hit a second and third time. Displaying extraordinary determination, Private First Class Van Dyke continued forward and dragged several of the injured back to the relative safety of the perimeter. It was during one such attempt that Private First Class Van Dyke was fatally wounded. Private First Class Van Dyke's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Jenny, one of Deane's sisters, tells me that Deane was struck by machine gun fire that basically walked up one side of him. He lived for two weeks in the hospital, and as they were loading him onto a helicopter to transport him to debarkation to the States, he died. His is a name that has been missing from that company of heroes who died at Xa Cam My. With his family's help that oversight has been corrected.