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At 4-foot-11 inches 112 pounds Allen Owen was believed to be the smallest combat Marine and served 3 tours in Vietnam."Allen and I were close friends at the University of Missouri-Columbia campus 1965-68. We were always partners in our dime/point and 25 cents/set best. Allen always rode an Indian He graduated from the University in 1968 with a Forestry Degree. "As I recall, he served as a "TUNNEL RAT" beginning his second tour in Viet Nam. When he returned from VN, he learned to fly planes and sky drive. He later served as a smoke jumper out west. We talked occasionally after VN to catch up. "Later I learned he passed as result of his parachute failing during a recreational jump. Life magazine published a detailed pictorial and article about Allen while he was in basic training at Camp Pendleton. Allen Owen was truly a "GIANT KILLER."I have thought of him often through the years. Thanks for recognizing his outstanding service to America. Semper Fi and RIP my dear friend." -Ron GloverThis is from the national smokejumpers association,On Sunday, September 6, 1981, at 1400, Allen "Mouse" Owen was killed at the North Pole Skydiving Club, twenty miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. He had been participating in Relative Work Competition, a contest where four-man teams attempt to form various hook-up patterns while in freefall from 8,000 feet. On his fatal jump, Allen's team successfully formed five separate patterns, capturing the weekend record. At 3,000 feet, immediately after their parachutes had opened, Allen and another jumper collided with each other. They both were using square ram-air canopies that have a considerable forward speed. Somehow, due to the collision, Allen's canopy began to malfunction, putting him into a strong spin. Apparently, his lines were entangled with his body, preventing him from jettisoning his main canopy that would allow a safe, clean path for his reserve deployment. At 500 feet, his canopy collapsed completely. Observers saw his reserve pilot chute flash out and entangle into his main parachute lines. His reserve parachute never did deploy. A Registered Nurse immediately made full resuscitation efforts. An ambulance arrived on the scene within ten minutes. Doctors at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital believe that Mouse was killed on impact. God Bless our Vets!#usmarines #smokejumper #military #veteransofbrotherhood At 4-foot-11 inches 112 pounds Allen Owen was believed to be the smallest combat Marine and served 3 tours in Vietnam.