Hospitalman Donald Chester Dean, USN, was assigned to VAW-113 on board USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64). On October 2, 1969, a C-2A "TRADER" cargo was transferring crewmen from the Naval Air Station, Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines, to the USS CONSTELLATION on station in the Gulf of Tonkin. Petty Officer Dean was a passenger on the aircraft. The C-2A was inbound and in the hands of the marshal air controller up to 10 nautical miles from the ship when it went off the radar scopes. Helicopter search and rescue was initiated from the ship. Although the helicopter crew sighted an oil slick and debris, none of the bodies of the 26 crew and passengers were found.

Petty Officer Dean was listed as a Non-Battle Death/Body Not Recovered.

Petty Officer Dean was born January 7, 1942, in Old Mines, Missouri, and listed St. Louis, Missouri, as his Home of Record.