Georgia man honored for his World War II heroics, continued service

Capt. Dale Dyer stands and receives the Gold Distinguised Service Medal in a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Presidential Service Center in Blue Ridge on Aug. 5. Photo contributed by the U.S. Presidential Service Center.
Capt. Dale Dyer stands and receives the Gold Distinguised Service Medal in a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Presidential Service Center in Blue Ridge on Aug. 5. Photo contributed by the U.S. Presidential Service Center.

Dale Dyer, a Blue Ridge, Georgia, resident and well-known Fannin County historian, was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his service and heroism in World War II.

Dyer was a World War II Army Air Corps pilot and today is an author, columnist and local historian.

He is also a member of the 458th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, 2nd Division. He was born in 1919.

U.S. Presidential Service Center CEO Martin Mongiello said Dyer's contributions to American history "are legendary."

Dyer was a pilot and bombadier during the war and is credited with playing a key role in forcing Adolf Hitler to give up on his plans to develop an atomic bomb and devoting the bulk of weapons effort to the army.

"Captain Dyer, and many like him, hit and punished the enemies of America deep in the heartland where they felt safe," Mongiello wrote in a news release. "In the crippling, blistering, brimstone blows of fire, bombing, flame and blackened smoke, they reduced once-great cities to rubble."

Mongiello added that Dyer in his years after the war has continued to be a philathropist and shares his knowledge and "the education of several lifetimes" with organizations, museums, associations and societies around the country.

Rick Skelton and Susie Council presented Dyer with the award Aug. 5 at the U.S. Presidential Service Center in Grover, North Carolina.

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