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Date: 11/16/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – The town of East Longmeadow hosts a Veterans Day ceremony each year, but this year‘s commemoration had extra significance for many, including one family whose father was finally honored with his breatheren.
East Longmeadow resident Bruce Moore’s brother Scott Moore, a retired major in the Air Force, was researching a project in 2019 when he came across an article that described the shooting down of a plane piloted by Air Force Maj. Frederick Dauten Jr. of East Longmeadow. Dauten’s name had not been included on the plaque remembering those who died in Vietnam that sits in front of the Town Hall.
Seven members of the Dauten family were in attendance as the plaque was rededicated with Dauten Jr. at the top 52 years after being killed in action. Dauten’s daughter Jennifer Dauten Nichols spoke at the ceremony, remembering her father as someone who flew “big cargo planes,” but when in the war, he piloted C7 Caribou aircraft, which she described as “a school bus with wings.”
Dauten Nichols recounted a phone call with someone who had been stationed in Vietnam and saw Dauten’s plane go down on April 4, 1970. She was told he had delivered supplies to troops near Dak Seang, Vietnam, and after taking off again, was fired on by ground forces. His plane went down behind enemy lines, and it was four months before his body was able to be recovered.
“It’s because of sacrifices like his that we’re able to be here,” State Rep. Brian Ashe said of Dauten. Ashe said he was “so grateful for the freedoms that are given.”
Dauten Nichols thanked the Moores for working on the rededication and Town Council President Ralph Page for donating the landscaping for the memorial.
When Dauten was shot down, Dauten Nichols and Kristen Dauten were 12 and 10 years old, respectively. The younger sister explained that the family had only lived in East Longmeadow for a matter of weeks when their father died, which may explain how his name came to be left off the plaque.
“We’re grateful that he’s finally been honored for his sacrifice,” said Dauten Nichols. Dauten added, “We’re very proud of him.” As she works in East Longmeadow, Dauten said,” It’ll be nice to see his name.”