Word Celebrity Blog

Douglas Eugene Dickey


Private First Class Douglas Eugene Dickey (December 24, 1946 – March 26, 1967) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during Operation Beacon Hill 1, on March 26, 1967, while serving as a rifleman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, 3rd Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam.

Douglas Eugene Dickey was born on December 24, 1946 in Greenville, Ohio. He graduated from high school in 1965.

On December 13, 1965, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was discharged to re-enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on April 11, 1966.

In June 1966, after completing recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton, California, where he underwent individual combat training with the Second Infantry Training Regiment, graduating in August 1966.

In October 1966, he joined Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. While attached to this unit, he participated in Operation Prairie. He was promoted to private first class on October 1, 1966.
























On November 8, 1966, Pfc. Dickey was transferred to Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, and participated in combat against insurgent Communist Viet Cong Forces, in Operations Deckhouse, Desota and Beacon Hill 1.



















In March, 1967 the 1st Battalion, 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 beginning.


















Charlie 1/4 was involved in two major engagements; on March 24 they lost six men in a 3 hour plus 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 2nd Platoon was engaged in a fierce battle with the Viet Cong at close range in dense jungle foliage. Pfc. Douglas 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. An NVA soldier tossed a grenade which landed in the midst of a group of marines, which included the wounded radio operator who was immobilized. Douglas Dickey threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing with his body the full force of the explosion. His actions not only saved the lives of the radio operator and the corpsman, but probably the other marines in the vicinity.

The 1/4 Operations Log for March 26 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, New York
    * Cpl Douglas W. Lee, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Silver Star)
    * LCpl Floyd M. Larrabee, Olathe, Kansas
    * LCpl James L. Verhelst, Kewanee, Illinois
    * Pfc Douglas E. Dickey, Rossburg, Ohio (Medal of Honor)
    * Pfc Edwardo L. Gutloff, New York, New York
    * Pfc Larry J. Larson, Carmel, California
    * Pfc Victor H. Vanvactor, Louisville, Kentucky






















ON THE WALL - Panel 17E Line 050




















Private First Class Douglas Eugene Dickey is buried in Brock Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio.



Decorations and Medals
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart with two Gold Stars
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal







Medal of Honor Citation

DOUGLAS E. DICKEY

Rank and organization:
Private First Class,
U.S. Marine Corps, Company C,
1st Battalion, 4th Marines,
9th Marine Amphibious Brigade,
3rd Marine Division (Rein)

Place and date:
Republic of Vietnam,
March 26, 1967

Entered service at:
Cincinnati, Ohio

Born:
December 24, 1946,
Greenville, Ohio













Citation:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DOUGLAS E. DICKEY
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 serving with the Second Platoon, Company C, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on March 26, 1967. While participating in Operation BEACON HILL I, the Second Platoon was engaged in a fierce battle with the Viet Cong at close range in dense jungle foliage. Private First Class 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, Private First Class Dickey, in a final valiant act, quickly and unhesitatingly threw himself upon the deadly grenade, absorbing with his own body the full and complete force of the explosion.

Private First Class 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 own life. His actions reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ LYNDON B. JOHNSON