Dennis James O'Rorke

West Point, 1975

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Ken Criste on April 2, 2010:

I grew up with Denny O'Rorke back in the 60's in Altoona Pa. I wonder how many of his classmates knew that his twin brother, Mike had died while serving in the Marine Corps. That might have been Denny's junior or senior year at West Point. Denny was literally always the smartest, most serious boy in our elementary school class. I used to marvel at his perfect handwriting. A strange sort of thing to recall. Something led me to this site tonight and thanks to modern technology and the thoughtfulness of the people of your organization there is a place for these men to be remembered. One time more than ten years ago I ran into a one of your classmates. I was looking at a home for sale and saw a West Point diploma on the wall. Later I called the owner and indeed he had been a classmate and friend. Small world. Looking at the reunion photos of the class of '75' I am reminded that we are aging and that Denny would look like any of us now: old, fat, balding ! And Mike, he was really just a kid. My heart and my sympathies go out to his mother. She raised two fine young men who both ended up serving their country at a time when that wasn't a particularly popular undertaking. Mike didn't make it out. Never held his own babies. We tend to take a lot for granted. The last time I saw Denny was at Mikes funeral. He was wearing the Cadet uniform and acting very stoic. I know his mind was blown and a big part of him died then too with his twin brother. We talked once on the phone in the 1980's when he was working in Dallas and I was there . I think he worked for Texas Instruments. I can't recall now, but a couple years later I contacted his Mom and she told me he had died. We...go on! Ken Criste Austin, Tx.

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