Dennis tripped on a land mine and died while on a R & R. His friends came back to tell the family about Dennis and one friend in particular lost a leg while he was with Dennis at the time of the accident. Dennis was killed in Italy during World War II and received the purple heart.
"During the entire month of April, the weather was nice and living conditions were spoiled only by the frequent enemy shelling which results in casualities. Two from "C" Battery, Pfc. Dennis Cowen and Pfc. Walter Lekies entered the beach area and set off a mine field. Pfc. Cowen was immediately killed and Pfc. Lekies seriously wounded. Pfc. William Earnhart, Battery C, died of wounds received from enemy shell fire on April 27th."