Lieutenant Colonel William E. Dyess - Albany Cemetery - Albany, TX
N 32° 44.292 W 099° 17.356
14S E 472898 N 3622301
Lieutenant Colonel William E. Dyess was a bona fide hero of World War II who survived the Bataan Death March, only to be cut down later in an airplane crash. He is buried with his family in Albany Cemetery, Albany, TX.
Waymark Code: WM11HZK
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/29/2019
Views: 5
A 2004 Texas Historical Marker in front of his gravesite provides an overview:
A graduate of Albany High School, William Edwin Dyess was an aviation and infantry commander in the Philippines during World War II. Captured at the fall of Bataan in 1942, he survived the Death March and escaped his captors a year later. Back in the U.S., his published accounts of enemy actions toward prisoners of war greatly aided the war effort and influenced world opinion. In November 1943, he made an appearance at the Albany football field on his way to California, where he died in a plane crash just weeks later. Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene is named for the much-decorated war hero.
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Colonel Dyess's final resting place is impressive, pretty much all done in marble, enclosed by curbing with two urns flanking a step with "Dyess" on it. White rocks cover the ground, and a footstone bears pilot's wings and:
Lieutenant Colonel
William Edwin Dyess
Aug. 9, 1916 Dec. 22, 1943
...while the main monument has a tall centerpiece with two wings that actually have pilot wings atop them. Text across both wings provides some details:
Lt. Col. Dyess was on duty Dec. 7, 1941 in the Philippine Islands as squadron commander of the 21st Pursuit Squadron, which later received Presidential Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He distinguished himself by destroying 40,000 tons of shipping in Subic Bay. He converted remnants of Air Corps personnel into ground infantry and led them in victorious Battle of Agoloma Bay, destroying six hundred Japanese. He refused to leave his men at the fall of Bataan.
After being held prisoner by the Japanese for 361 days he escaped and fought with guerrillas in the Philippine Islands, returning to the United States for active duty in August, 1943. Holder of Distinguished Service Cross, Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit in Degree of Officer and the Silver Star. Soldiers Medal awarded posthumously for sacrifice of life in airplane crash, Glendale, California, December 22, 1943.
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The centerpiece of the main monument stands about ten feet tall, and a photo medallion of Colonel Dyess is below his wings and his family name. The inscription reads:
Lieutenant Colonel
William Edwin
Dyess
Defender of Bataan
Graduated
John Tarleton College
May 18, 1936
Graduated
Advanced Flying School
Kelly Field
October 6, 1937
"I want you to know I love every one of you"
Last words spoken to Albany friends 11-5-43
Type of Resource: Grave
Other from above - Please Specify: Grave
Relevant Position in Armed Forces:
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps/U.S. Army Air Forces, 24th Pursuit Group and 329th Fighter Group. Held command of 21st Pursuit Squadron.
Nationality: American
Relevant Website: [Web Link]
Date if Relevant: Not listed
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