WWII Marine Intel officer's grouping

[Bob Hudson]

Elsewhere I have posted the EGA's from a grouping I acquired this week ( http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=11595 ) - here is the rest of what as in it. Lt. Col. Dickson joined the Corps as an enlisted man in 1934 and served in various Marine aviation units through 1938. I have not been able to find record of a second enlistment.

 

In WWII he became an officer, assigned to to aviation units as an intelligence officer. So far I have found out that he served with VMD-154 when they were running photo recon missions from Espiritu Santo in 1942 and in 1945-46 he was with VMSB-343 at Marine Air Base Two in Tsingtao, China (I have the Christmas 1945 dinner menu from the officers mess). The only other paperwork I have is a certificate for crossing the Equator in 1942. That was when he led a 15-man advanced echelon to the South Pacific for VMD-154 (there's a webpage about that at http://home.insightbb.com/~vmd154.reunion....nceEchelon.html . The person I got the grouping from said they have - somewhere - some photos of him and "some old airplanes." I assume those are photos of one or more of his squadrons and I am still trying to get those. I did download a photo of him from the above link:

 

 

 

Here is the bulk of what I got - the sad part is that the seller gave the Bronze Star to someone who just thought it looked neat. I've got the presentation box, the box that came in with his name on it, and the ribbon.

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

 

 

 

The lighter appears to be silver - perhaps made to fit over a Zippo's insides:

 

[Bob Hudson]

 

[Bob Hudson]

Here's the Christmas dinner menu: this was folded in half so it made a little booklet:

 

 

 

And here's the Equator crossing certificate from the SS Lurline, and the above link says:

 

The Advance Echelon of VMD-154 was ordered to the South Pacific in September 1942. Sixteen men led by Lt. Edward A. Dickson were transported on the S.S. Lurline to New Caledonia. From this location, they prepared for the arrival of the Forward Echelon.

 

In the August 1999 "VMD-154 Newsletter," David E. Fry gave the following account: "Some of the squadron, Lt. Dickson and fifteen enlisted men, went over on the Lurline to New Caledonia. We were supposed to be picked up by the squadron, but they forgot us. We were stranded there for over a month. While waiting to be picked up, Sgt. Bibee borrowed an SNJ to keep his flight time up, and I flew with him."

 

[Bob Hudson]

Here's another photo from the VMD - 154 website. This is the intelligence unit and Lt Dickson is on the far right:

 

[Dirk]

Admin......WOW! Better than anything my kids brought home tonight

[dan]

What is the ribbon next to the Purple Heart ribbon? It looks dark brown with a white stripe on each end. I've had one for years and never found out what it is.

 

Thanks.

 

Dan

[Bob Hudson]

What is the ribbon next to the Purple Heart ribbon? It looks dark brown with a white stripe on each end. I've had one for years and never found out what it is.

 

Thanks.

 

Dan

 

It's actually green, but those Wolf Brown ribbons really reflect the light. It's for the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

[dan]

Thanks.

[Helldiver son]

Elsewhere I have posted the EGA's from a grouping I acquired this week ( http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=11595 ) - here is the rest of what as in it. Lt. Col. Dickson joined the Corps as an enlisted man in 1934 and served in various Marine aviation units through 1938. I have not been able to find record of a second enlistment.

 

In WWII he became an officer, assigned to to aviation units as an intelligence officer. So far I have found out that he served with VMD-154 when they were running photo recon missions from Espiritu Santo in 1942 and in 1945-46 he was with VMSB-343 at Marine Air Base Two in Tsingtao, China (I have the Christmas 1945 dinner menu from the officers mess). The only other paperwork I have is a certificate for crossing the Equator in 1942. That was when he led a 15-man advanced echelon to the South Pacific for VMD-154 (there's a webpage about that at http://home.insightbb.com/~vmd154.reunion....nceEchelon.html . The person I got the grouping from said they have - somewhere - some photos of him and "some old airplanes." I assume those are photos of one or more of his squadrons and I am still trying to get those. I did download a photo of him from the above link:

 

dickson1.jpg

 

 

Here is the bulk of what I got - the sad part is that the seller gave the Bronze Star to someone who just thought it looked neat. I've got the presentation box, the box that came in with his name on it, and the ribbon.

 

 

 

 

For what it is worth: My father was in VMSB 343 Jan 44 USMC on Engebi Island flying in Marine Corps SB2C Helldiver missions. He then was transferred into 344.

 

[Helldiver son]

Elsewhere I have posted the EGA's from a grouping I acquired this week ( http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=11595 ) - here is the rest of what as in it. Lt. Col. Dickson joined the Corps as an enlisted man in 1934 and served in various Marine aviation units through 1938. I have not been able to find record of a second enlistment.

 

In WWII he became an officer, assigned to to aviation units as an intelligence officer. So far I have found out that he served with VMD-154 when they were running photo recon missions from Espiritu Santo in 1942 and in 1945-46 he was with VMSB-343 at Marine Air Base Two in Tsingtao, China (I have the Christmas 1945 dinner menu from the officers mess). The only other paperwork I have is a certificate for crossing the Equator in 1942. That was when he led a 15-man advanced echelon to the South Pacific for VMD-154 (there's a webpage about that at http://home.insightbb.com/~vmd154.reunion....nceEchelon.html . The person I got the grouping from said they have - somewhere - some photos of him and "some old airplanes." I assume those are photos of one or more of his squadrons and I am still trying to get those. I did download a photo of him from the above link:

 

dickson1.jpg

 

 

Here is the bulk of what I got - the sad part is that the seller gave the Bronze Star to someone who just thought it looked neat. I've got the presentation box, the box that came in with his name on it, and the ribbon.

 

 

 

 

For what it is worth: My father was in VMSB 343 Jan 44 USMC on Engebi Island flying in Marine Corps SB2C Helldiver missions. He then was transferred into 344.

 

[Jumpin Jack]

Bob, you've done it again. Fantastic grouping! Jack