75 years of Gearing class Destroyers series:
USS Dyess was launched by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas on 26 January 1945 by Mrs. A. J. Dyess, widow of Lieutenant Colonel Dyess.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquilla_J._Dyess
USS Dyess was launched by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas on 26 January 1945 by Mrs. A. J. Dyess, widow of Lieutenant Colonel Dyess.
Aquilla James Dyess was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for
his leadership of his battalion of Marines in the Battle of Kwajalein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquilla_J._Dyess
Aquilla James Dyess
There is a display dedicated to this man at the Augusta History Museum." One Man Two Ships"
http://www.augustamuseum.org/Signature-Exhibitions
http://www.augustamuseum.org/Signature-Exhibitions
Wayne Purvis and Aquilla Dyess are both descendants of John Dyess Sr..Wayne 's 4th cousins twice removed on his mothers side.
1.Wayne is the son of Florida Beatrice Weathers.
2. Beatrice is the daughter of James Belford Weathers
3. Jim Cap is the son of William Belford Weathers
4. William is the son of Edward Weathers
5. Edward is the son of Violator (Dyess) Weathers
6. Violet is the daughter of John Dyess
7. John is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the fifth great grandfather of John.
2. Beatrice is the daughter of James Belford Weathers
3. Jim Cap is the son of William Belford Weathers
4. William is the son of Edward Weathers
5. Edward is the son of Violator (Dyess) Weathers
6. Violet is the daughter of John Dyess
7. John is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the fifth great grandfather of John.
1. Aquilla is the son of Maurice E. Dyess
2. Maurice is the son of Aquilla James Dyess
3. Aquilla is the son of William Dyess
4. William is the son of Thomas Dyess
5. Thomas is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the third great grandfather of Aquilla.
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was killed in action. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves and was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division (Rein). He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on February 1-2, 1944 at Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. His citation reads in part "Alert and determined to quicken the pace of the offensive against increased enemy fire, he was constantly at the head of advance units, inspiring his men to push forward until the Japanese had been driven back to a small center of resistance and victory assured. While standing on the parapet of the antitank trench directing a group of infantry in a flanking attack against the last enemy position, Lt Col. Dyess was killed by a burst of enemy machine-gun fire." Bio by: Don Morfe
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2. Maurice is the son of Aquilla James Dyess
3. Aquilla is the son of William Dyess
4. William is the son of Thomas Dyess
5. Thomas is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the third great grandfather of Aquilla.
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was killed in action. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves and was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division (Rein). He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on February 1-2, 1944 at Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. His citation reads in part "Alert and determined to quicken the pace of the offensive against increased enemy fire, he was constantly at the head of advance units, inspiring his men to push forward until the Japanese had been driven back to a small center of resistance and victory assured. While standing on the parapet of the antitank trench directing a group of infantry in a flanking attack against the last enemy position, Lt Col. Dyess was killed by a burst of enemy machine-gun fire." Bio by: Don Morfe
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Dyess
https://www.findagrave.com/mem…/15355077/william-edwin-dyess
https://www.findagrave.com/mem…/15355077/william-edwin-dyess
William Edwin Dyess
John Purvis and William Edwin Dyess are both descendants of John Dyess Sr..
1. Wayne is the son of Florida Beatrice Weathers
2. Beatrice is the daughter of James Belford Weathers ]
3. Jim Cap is the son of William Belford Weathers
4. William is the son of Edward Weathers
5. Edward is the son of Violator (Dyess) Weathers
6. Violet is the daughter of John Dyess
7. John is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the fifth great grandfather of John.
2. Beatrice is the daughter of James Belford Weathers ]
3. Jim Cap is the son of William Belford Weathers
4. William is the son of Edward Weathers
5. Edward is the son of Violator (Dyess) Weathers
6. Violet is the daughter of John Dyess
7. John is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the fifth great grandfather of John.
1. William is the son of Richard Thomas Dyess
2. Richard is the son of John George Dyess
3. John is the son of Thomas D Dyess
4. Thomas is the son of George Washington Dyess Sr.
5. George is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the third great grandfather of Ed.
2. Richard is the son of John George Dyess
3. John is the son of Thomas D Dyess
4. Thomas is the son of George Washington Dyess Sr.
5. George is the son of John Dyess Sr.
This makes John the third great grandfather of Ed.
William wrote a book about his experiences in the Bataan Death March.
(https://www.amazon.com/Bataan-Death-March-Surv…/…/0803266332)
The Abilene (Tx) Army Airfield was renamed Dyess Air Force Base in his honor in 1957.
Ed's military awards and decorations are:
*USAAF Pilot Badge
*Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster
*Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster
*Legion of Merit
*Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster
*Soldier's Medal
*Bronze Star Medal
*Purple Heart
*Prisoner of War Medal
*American Defense Service Medal with one campaign star
*American Campaign Medal
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign star
*World War II Victory Medal
*Philippine Defense Medal
*Texas Legislative Medal of Honor (posthumous)
*Army Presidential Unit Citation
*Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (Army Version)
*Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
(https://www.amazon.com/Bataan-Death-March-Surv…/…/0803266332)
The Abilene (Tx) Army Airfield was renamed Dyess Air Force Base in his honor in 1957.
Ed's military awards and decorations are:
*USAAF Pilot Badge
*Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster
*Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster
*Legion of Merit
*Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster
*Soldier's Medal
*Bronze Star Medal
*Purple Heart
*Prisoner of War Medal
*American Defense Service Medal with one campaign star
*American Campaign Medal
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign star
*World War II Victory Medal
*Philippine Defense Medal
*Texas Legislative Medal of Honor (posthumous)
*Army Presidential Unit Citation
*Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (Army Version)
*Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
Georgia State Route 383, a four-lane highway from Interstate 20 near Augusta, Georgia to Fort Gordon is named Jimmie Dyess Parkway in his honor.
In 1945, the destroyer USS Dyess (DD-880) was named in honor of Dyess.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquilla_J._Dyess
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquilla_J._Dyess
SCOUTS IN THE MILITARY: AQUILLA JAMES DYESS
Dyess was born on January 11, 1909 in Andersonville, Georgia to Maurice and Sallie Dyess. As a youth he was involved in the Boy Scouts, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Following his graduation from school he attended Clemson College in Clemson, South Carolina where he he served as a cadet major in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. In 1929, he was awarded the Carnagie Medal for saving two swimmers off the coast of South Carolina. He was appointed a second lieutenant in the Army Infantry Reserve in 1931. The next year he graduated from Clemson with a bachelor of science degree in architecture. In civilian life he worked as a general contractor at construction sites, and as the assistant director of a summer camp for boys.
In 1936, Dyess was appointed a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve and was assigned to the 19th Battalion in Augusta. He earned the bronze star as a shooting member of the Marine Corps Rifle Team, and won multiple awards for his skill.
Dyess was deployed to the Pacific theater during World War II. On Namur Island, six Marine snipers were on patrol when they inadvertently moved behind enemy lines and were soon surrounded by the Japanese forces. One Marine was killed instantly, but the remaining five, though injured, made it home thanks to the bravery of then Lieutenant Colonel Dyess who provided cover fire for their escape. The next day, February
2, 1944, Dyess was killed at age 35 by a burst of enemy machine gun fire leading his troops in an advance.
2, 1944, Dyess was killed at age 35 by a burst of enemy machine gun fire leading his troops in an advance.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
