Douglas Eugene Dickey
Private First Class
C CO, 1ST BN, 4TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Rossburg, Ohio
December 24, 1946 to March 26, 1967
DOUGLAS E DICKEY is on the Wall at Panel 17E, Line 50

moh_army-s.gif  
 
phndvsvc.gif
 
Combat Action Ribbon
 
Douglas E Dickey
3rdmaf.gif 3mardiv.gif 4thmarines.gif



Douglas E Dickey

PFC DOUGLAS EUGENE DICKEY

 
03 Mar 2001

Dickey is a Medal of Honor recipient.
He jumped on a hand grenade to save our wounded radio man and Lieutenant.

moh_navy-s.gif

The President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the

Medal of Honor

posthumously to

Douglas Eugene Dickey

Private First Class,
United States Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While participating in Operation Beacon Hill 1, the 2d Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, was engaged in a fierce battle with the Viet Cong at close range in dense jungle foliage. PFC Dickey had come forward to replace a radio operator who had been wounded in this intense action and was being treated by a medical corpsman. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed in the midst of a group of Marines, which included the wounded radio operator who was immobilized. Fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions, PFC Dickey, in a final valiant act, quickly and unhesitatingly threw himself upon the deadly grenade, absorbing with his body the full and complete force of the explosion. PFC Dickey's personal heroism, extraordinary valor and selfless courage saved a number of his comrades from certain injury and possible death at the cost of his life. His actions reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

From a fellow Marine.
gtcardi53@aol.com


 
16 Jun 2003

God bless you and your family, you did everyone proud! It was a brave thing to do, most people wouldn't even think of doing that but you went above the call of duty, for your country, yourself and most importantly your comrades whom you saved. Rest in peace.

Andrew Elwood
plasitinamosher@hotmail.com


 
03 Apr 2006

Dear Doug,
My family has honored your bravery and the greatest sacrifice for our country from the moment we were told. Your clarity in the moment of sacrifice gives us all pause. Your Mom and Dad displayed enormous courage when they received the highest medal of honor in your behalf. Your family has shown enormous courage, in spite of the sacrifice of their child. We will never forget you. With Love, The Emerick/Billingsley Family

From a cousin,
Nancee Emerick
mrick@gobrainstorm.net


 
21 May 2007

I have not forgotten.

Sgt William Douglas Wynn
3rd Sqd, 1st Plt, C Co, 1st Bn, 4th Marines
November 1966 thru July 1967
marinevol@charter.net


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

During the period 20 March - 01 April 1967 the 1st Bn, 4th Marines were conducting Operation Beacon Hill, a search-and-destroy operation in the Gia Linh District of Quang Tri Province. The area was well supplied with NVA troops who seemed inclined to fight rather than withdraw and the 1/4 Marines encountered stiff resistance from the outset. Charlie 2/4 was involved in two major engagements; on 24 March they lost six men in a fight with a company-sized NVA unit while killing 38 NVA troops.

Charlie 1/4's second engagement was on 26 March, this time a 3+ hour fight against an entrenched enemy concealed in dense vegetation. The 1/4 Operations Log for 26 March contains three entries applicable to Charlie 1/4:

  • 1132 - Receiving sporadic sniper fire
  • 1245 - Engaged by snipers and a small NVA unit; killed 2 NVA
  • 1600 to 1930 - Received 82mm mortar, heavy automatic weapons, and small arms fire from concealed enemy positions and trench lines. Medevac helicopter downed by enemy fire [probably UH-34D tail number 145796]. Results 6 friendly KIA, 28 WIA. 9 NVA KIA confirmed, 13 probable, 1 POW.
Two of Charlie 1/4's wounded died later the same day, for a total loss of eight men:
  • Cpl Robert E. Bryson, Rochester, NY
  • Cpl Douglas W. Lee, Winston-Salem, NC (Silver Star)
  • LCpl Floyd M. Larrabee, Olathe, KS
  • LCpl James L. Verhelst, Kewanee, IL
  • Pfc Douglas E. Dickey, Rossburg, OH (Medal of Honor)
  • Pfc Edwardo L. Gutloff, New York, NY
  • Pfc Larry J. Larson, Carmel, CA
  • Pfc Victor H. Vanvactor, Louisville, KY

Contact Us © Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd ®(TM) Last update 08/15/2019.