In the summer of 1968, Pace, from Muncie Indiana, crossed paths with Montrose resident David Shiflett while the two were on the battlefield serving in the U.S. Army in Pleiku, South Vietnam.

Down to their final two weeks in Vietnam during the spring of 1969, Pace asked Shiflett to borrow $50, promising to repay the debt before the two returned to their hometowns. Soon after receiving the money, Pace learned that his friend was killed in action, which left him heartbroken and troubled about the unresolved debt.

“It really bothered me that I had lost my friend and that we both weren’t going to get to go home,” Pace, now a resident of Mansfield, Ohio, told The Inter-Mountain. “And for many years I’ve wanted to repay the money back to someone in his family.”

While on an Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., Pace was paired with Vickie Hall, a guardian with the tour that takes veterans to historic sites in the city, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 

Dean Pace stands next to a sign in Gilman where a bridge is dedicated to his friend David Shiflett.

The two became acquainted and after hearing Pace’s story, Hall was determined to help him find a member of Shiflett’s family.

“We became just the best of friends,” Hall said of Pace. “My husband loves him, my mother knew him before she passed away, so we’ve sort of adopted him. When he told me the story about David, I told him that one day we would find his gravesite and family. But then COVID hit and we had to put plans on hold for a while.”

Last month the two set out on a journey from their homes in Ohio to Montrose. When arriving at their destination, the duo first discovered that there was a bridge in Gilman that was dedicated to Shiflett. Several residents that lived close to the bridge talked with the two and recommended they visit a nearby cemetery, Mountain State Memorial Gardens.

The following day, Hall called the cemetery and they were provided the precise location of Shiflett’s grave. Pace’s visit to the grave was emotional, but he knew he was on the right path toward finding a family member.

During the visit to the cemetery, an individual who had known Shiflett’s brothers, Edward and Steve, recommended that the two visit the Railroad Depot to possibly obtain more information.

Submitted photo Montrose resident David Shiflett was killed in action while serving with the United States Army in Pleiku, South Vietnam in 1969. His friend during the war, Dean Pace, recently traveled to Elkins from Ohio to pay back a $50 loan he received from Shiflett. Pace presented the money to Shiflett’s brother, Edward.

A volunteer at the Depot knew the Shiflett brothers, but had no contact information, so Pace and Hall made their way up Railroad Avenue and stopped at The Inter-Mountain office, where it was recommended that they visit veteran Jake Roberts at Peter Pan Cleaners.

When the duo arrived at the business on 11th Street, Roberts was ready and willing to assist. Soon after leaving the location, Hall’s phone rang and it was Shiflett’s brother Edward, who agreed to meet the two at Peter Pan Cleaners.

When Shiflett entered the building, Pace explained to him why he was there. The room was filled with emotion when Dean handed Shiflett a $50 bill to pay off the 56-year-old debt.

“Dean is a really nice man and I know that owing my brother $50 since 1969 was really bugging him,” Edward Shiflett told The Inter-Mountain. “That just goes to show that money isn’t everything and a piece of mind is worth a million.

“I was totally shocked when he showed up. I visited with my brother before I left Vietnam and met several of his fellow soldiers, and I believed he (Pace) might have been one of them, but it’s been a long time ago so I don’t know.”

After accepting the $50 bill, Edward Shiflett put it inside the glass frame of a photo he has of his brother in his home. 

“When I met him (Pace) he had tears in his eyes, so I knew he was very sincere with what he was doing,” said Shiflett. “I guess it has bothered him for over 50 years –  I’m glad to see him get peace of mind.”

Edward Shiflett himself spent two years in Vietnam. During his time he was awarded many medals, badges and titles, including an Army Commendation medal, a Vietnam Service medal, an Aircraft Crewman badge, Vietnam Campaign W/60 Device, a Meritorious Unit Citation, a Good Conduct medal and numerous air medals.