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Historic Plaque, Lt. Col. William E. Dyess

Description:

Historic Plaque for Lt. Col. William E. Dyess, (August 9, 1916 -
December 22, 1943) "A native of Albany, and a graduate of Albany Hgh
School and John Tarleton Agricultural College, William Edwin Dyess was
the son of Judge Richard T. and Hallie Graham Dyess. Trained as a pilot at Randolph Field, San Antonio, he led the 21st Pursuit Squadron of
P-40s in the Phillipines, where he was when the Japan bombed Pearl
Harbor in December 1941 and the U.S. entered Word War II. Dyess'
actions against invading Japanese forces at Subic Bay, despite few
operational planes, and his later role as infantry commander earned hima reputation for bravery and resourcefulness. Dyess was among the men captured at the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942 and forced into the grueling death march. He survived the malnutrition, disease and torture that resulted in the loss of thousands of his comrades. Almost after a year after their capture he and 11 other men escaped and made their way through hostile territory. Dyess reported to the U. S. War Department and Gen. Douglas MacArthur on enemy actions. Through his personal accounts of Japanese atrocities in the Chicago Tribune, he influenced world opinion on wartime brutalities.
Promoted to Lt. Colonel, Dyess returned to Albany in November 1943
after recuperation and made an appearance at the football field on his
way to California. Weeks later, he died when the P-38 he piloted
crashed at Burbank. His body was returned to his hometown for burial.
His wife, Marajen, published The Dyess Story (1944), a book of his
accounts, and Albany Playwright Robert E. Nail, Jr., wrote Men of
Bataan (1943), an acclaimed play based on his exploits. Dyess Air Force Base at Abilene was named in honor of Albany's much-decorated war hero in 1956.
Creator: Belden, Dreanna L.
Location:
Creation Date: 2006-04-14
Partner(s):
UNT Libraries
About | Browse Partner's Holdings
Collection(s):
Photographing Texas
About | Browse this Collection
Creator (Photographer):
Belden, Dreanna L.
Historic Plaque, Lt. Col. William E. Dyess
Original Creation Date: 2006-04-14
Coverage:
Place
United States - Texas - Shackelford County - Albany
Era
Into Modern Times, 1939-Present
Date
2006
Description:

Historic Plaque for Lt. Col. William E. Dyess, (August 9, 1916 -
December 22, 1943) "A native of Albany, and a graduate of Albany Hgh
School and John Tarleton Agricultural College, William Edwin Dyess was
the son of Judge Richard T. and Hallie Graham Dyess. Trained as a pilot at Randolph Field, San Antonio, he led the 21st Pursuit Squadron of
P-40s in the Phillipines, where he was when the Japan bombed Pearl
Harbor in December 1941 and the U.S. entered Word War II. Dyess'
actions against invading Japanese forces at Subic Bay, despite few
operational planes, and his later role as infantry commander earned hima reputation for bravery and resourcefulness. Dyess was among the men captured at the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942 and forced into the grueling death march. He survived the malnutrition, disease and torture that resulted in the loss of thousands of his comrades. Almost after a year after their capture he and 11 other men escaped and made their way through hostile territory. Dyess reported to the U. S. War Department and Gen. Douglas MacArthur on enemy actions. Through his personal accounts of Japanese atrocities in the Chicago Tribune, he influenced world opinion on wartime brutalities.
Promoted to Lt. Colonel, Dyess returned to Albany in November 1943
after recuperation and made an appearance at the football field on his
way to California. Weeks later, he died when the P-38 he piloted
crashed at Burbank. His body was returned to his hometown for burial.
His wife, Marajen, published The Dyess Story (1944), a book of his
accounts, and Albany Playwright Robert E. Nail, Jr., wrote Men of
Bataan (1943), an acclaimed play based on his exploits. Dyess Air Force Base at Abilene was named in honor of Albany's much-decorated war hero in 1956.
Language: English
Subject(s):
Partner:
UNT Libraries
About | Browse Partner's Holdings
Collection:
Photographing Texas
About | Browse this Collection
Identifier:
  • LOCAL-CONT-NO: DSCN1930
  • ARK: ark:/67531/metapth13030
Resource Type: Photograph
Format: Image

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