Dale was inducted into the Army on February 10, 1970. He took his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Cannoneer training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, Battery A 1st Battalion Air Mobile 321st Artillery. He was attached to several different Infantry Units in the field for a short time as a radio telephone operator. He was stationed near Phu Bai, Vietnam, and on many different Fire Support bases. Specialist 4th Class Pfannkuch was discharged on September 16, 1971, and received these medals: National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Army Commendation and Good Conduct Medal.