Ernest J. Dawley
Ernest Joseph Dawley
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File:Ernest Dawley 2.jpg
Major General Ernest Joseph Dawley.
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Nickname(s) | "Mike" |
Born | Antigo, Wisconsin |
February 17, 1886
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Fort Ord, California |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ |
United States Army |
Years of service | 1910 - 1947 |
Rank | Major general |
Service number | 0-2843 |
Commands held | 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (1939) Division Artillery, 7th Infantry Division 40th Infantry Division (September 1941-April 1942) VI Corps (April 1942-September 1943) US Army Tank Destroyer School (1943) US Army Tank Destroyer Center (1944) Ground Forces Reinforcement Command, European Theater of Operations (1945) |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Honour |
Ernest Joseph "Mike" Dawley (17 February 1886 - 10 December 1973) was an officer of the United States Army, best known during World War II for commanding VI Corps during Operation Avalanche (the landings at Salerno). After the landings, he was relieved of his command by Mark W. Clark and returned to the United States.
Early career
Ernst Joseph Dawley was born on February 17, 1886 in Antigo, Wisconsin. After graduation from the Ribbon College in Ripon, Wisconsin and subsequently entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in June 15, 1910 and was also commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Field Artillery Branch on that date.[1]
With the American entry into World War I, in April 1917, Dawley was transferred to the newly created 7th Field Artillery Regiment stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The 7th Field Artillery was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and sent to the Western Front within the American Expeditionary Force.[2]
After arrival to the France, Dawley attended a short course in l’Ecole d'Artillerie at Fontainebleau and was appointed the executive officer for the Saumur Artillery School.[3] He stayed in this capacity until May 1918, when he was transferred as a major to the 12th Field Artillery Regiment. For the service with 12th Field Artillery, Dawley was decorated with Silver Star for gallantry in action near Vierzy.[4]
At the end of the July 1918, he was transferd to the General staff of the First Army. He was also promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in this capacity.
World War II
During World War II Dawley took command of VI Corps in 1943, then serving in the Mediterranean theater under the U.S. Fifth Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark. VI Corps had 36th (Texas) Infantry Division and 45th (Thunderbird) Infantry Division, both National Guard divisions, under command. The corps took part in the Allied invasion of Italy at Salerno on September 9, 1943, with the British X Corps under Fifth Army as part of Operation Avalanche. The stiffness of the German defences sorely tested VI Corps, inflicting heavy casualties. German attempts to throw the American force back into the sea were thwarted by the artillery of its 45th and 36th Infantry divisions, strongly supported by naval and aerial bombardment and the approach of the British Eighth Army from the south.
Dawley had been moved on by Lieutenant General George S. Patton in Sicily and his suitability for high command had been questioned by the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and British General Harold Alexander. After the problems at Salerno, Dawley was replaced by Mark Clark after Salerno, as he was judged to be "worn out".[5] He reverted to his permanent rank of colonel on 23 December 1943 and was assigned as the commander of the Tank Destroyer School and Center in the United States, the first of several appointments to military training establishments. Some sources say that he was subsequently promoted to brigadier general on 30 September 1947. However, the "Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals" says that he was "Commanding general" of the Tank Destroyer Center from February 1944-March 1945." He retired in 1947 and was given the rank of major general (Retired) on 29 June 1948.[6]
Major General Ernest Joseph Dawley died on 8 September 1973 at Silas B. Hays Army Hospital at Fort Ord, California, almost exactly 30 years since the Salerno landings. His body was cremated and ashes scattered at sea.[7]
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major general Dawley:[8][9]
106px |
References
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- ↑ U.S. Army World War II Corps Commanders
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Time Magazine
- ↑ The Generals of WWII
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- Pages with broken file links
- 1886 births
- 1973 deaths
- People from Langlade County, Wisconsin
- United States Army generals
- Ripon College (Wisconsin) alumni
- United States Military Academy alumni
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- United States Army War College alumni
- American military personnel of World War I
- American military personnel of World War II
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- Officiers of the Légion d'honneur
- Recipients of the Order of the Black Star
- Recipients of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)
- Recipients of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite