Denis Flood Recruitment

Recruitment of a Hero

I met Denis Flood, an enlisted Marine, at Quantico Marine Base in 1968, while training for the All Service meet and the Olympic Trials. I had just gotten back from Vietnam and was struggling to get into running shape. Denis was on the Marine track team and had been seriously wounded in Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal along with two Purple Hearts for bravery. He had spent six months in military hospitals recovering from his war wounds. As his condition improved Denis began first walking, then jogging round the hospital grounds. He regained his stamina and speed and after a while was running fine races for our team. I called Coach Rohe and told him about Denis. Coach sent Thad Talley to Quantico to observe him running in our big relay meet. That resulted in Denis enrolling in UT and competing for the Vols where he was team co-Captain and SEC champion. After a couple of years on the team, a series of injuries and subsequent operations shortened his VOL career. He later said his body had just “given out.”
I am very proud of Denis!
What a Day,
Coppley