Passing of Distinguished Marksman and an American Hero

[JDBraddy]

Saturday, Dec 19 we lost Distinguished Marksman and WW-II veteran,
Colonel William C. Dickman recently operated his own business working as a Research Analyst. He retired for the second time in 1996 from the United States Air Force after a total of 56 years of Federal Service MARINE AND DOD. Colonel Dickman was born July 21, 1920 in San Antonio, Texas. He attended St. Mary's Parochial School and graduated from St. Gerard's High School in June 1938. The Colonel received his BSAE degree in Astronautical Engineering in (1950), Amphibious Saff Planning Course (1952), he attended the Naval War College (Naval Strategy & Tactics)(1953), Industrial College of the Armed Forces ( National Resource Course)(1956), Army Command & General Staff College (1969), Industrial College of The Armed Forces (Nat'l Security Management) (1973) Air Force Comptrollers School (1994), Degree in aero engineering, aircraft maintenance Officer.

UNITS:
FIRST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, 2ND MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FIRST MARINE DIVISION, SECOND MARINE DIVISION, 4TH MARINE DIVISION, MAG-21, MAG-25, MAG-35, 4TH RECON BATTALION, 4TH RECON SNIPER SCHOOL, CAPTAIN USMCR NATIONAL SHOOTING TEAM. Colonel Dickman enlisted in The United States Marine Corps on July 22, 1938 after choosing the Corps in preference of West Point. After completing his Boot Training he was ordered to Sea School and was later assigned to the Battleship USS Pennsylvania as one of the Orderlies for the Admiral and detailed as a "Hot Shellman" on a 5" Naval Gun. Pvt. Dickman requested a transfer to Marine Aviation and was reluctlently given this transfer by the Admiral and with MarineGen Little's blessing, he was Commanding General of Dept. of Pacific. Pvt. Dickman was transferred from Bremerton Navy Yard to Sand Point NAS for Aviation indoctrination training (1938), North Island NAS (Aircraft 2)1939, Assigned to VMB-2 as a second crew chief and radioman near seat gunner (1939), Attended Navy Machinist Mate School at NAS North Island (Completed 1939) Radio School, MCB-San Diego, CA (1939), Promoted to PFC (1940), Selected for the first class of Enlisted Naval Aviation Observer and Naval Aviation Navigators school, Lakehurtst NAS and Pensacola, FL, Naval Aviation Pilot training (Designated Jan. 1940). Promoted to Corporal. Assigned to Aircraft 2 and VMJ-2 for duty abroad USS Enterprise and duty at EWA AIR BASE, Oahu, TH (Feb 1941), Our Air Group MAG 21 was assigned to USS Enterprise for movement to Hawaii for duty and later Pacific Maneuvers or any Movement. Promoted to SGT. (May 1941), Participated in Fleet Maneuvers conducting Fleet Aerial Observation duty and Geographic and Relative Sector to Navigation searches. Squadron was involved in maneuvers when we moved VMF-to Wake Island. Returned to Pearl Harbor in time to Participate in Defense of EWA Field (Dec 5, 1941)Dec 7, 1941 Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor, Three separate attacks on Ewa Air Base. Many wounded and loss of aircraft. Promoted to S/Sgt.(June 1941), Training and attached to USS Lexington in prep to go to Coral Sea (1942), Transferred to NAS North Island and VMJ-253 for further Navigation Training and Flight Engineer Training on R4D Aircraft (1942), Lead Navigator on mass flight of R4D aircraft enroute to EWA, Hawaii and New Caledonia. (Set an Official NAA World Record on Aug 23 and 24, 1942), promoted to T/SGT (1942) Flew supplies, troops, ammunition to Marines at Guadalcanal over 60 missions over enemy held territory (1942-1943), promoted to MT/SGT (1943), transferred to Camp Kearney(Mirmar) as Navigation Instructor (1943-1944), promoted to 2ndLt.(3-17-44), transferred to VMR-352(1944), Participated in support flights to Iwo Jima, Okinawa and all Pacific Islands (1944-1945), China duty attached to Gen Ferrell's command in Pekin, China. Supported Marines at Tsingtao, Tientsin, and Shanghai, China (1945-1946), held various Reserve Billets in USMCR as Engineer Officer, Tactical Air Control Officer, Bureau Aero Rep and Bureau Weapons Rep C-97 Engineering Instructor. MATS, Convair 340 440 pilot instructor School, Brooks AFB (1947-1962), Air Force Pilot Instructor School (1954), OIC 4th Recon Sniper School, Camp Bullis, TX, Captain USMCR National Shooting Team (1963-1972), Reserve Selective Service Officer (1964-1976), Administrative Asst. and Aide to Gen Lewis Walt, White Houst Staff (1975-1976), Retired Colonel (1980) Tripled Rated: Naval Observer, Naval Navigator and rate Air Force Pilot Wings. GRADUATE OF AIR FORCE PILOT INSTRUCTOR SCHOOL, SELMA, ALABAMA. GRADUATE OF AIR FORCE CONVAIR 240, 340, AND 440 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SCHOOL, BROOKS AFB, TX, C-97 MAINTENANCE SCHOOL, KELLY AFB, TX. AIRCRAFT FLOWN IN: J2F-2, SBD-1, R4D-1, R4D-2, R3D-2, RY-3, R-5D, R5C, LOCKHEED 18, CONVAIR- 240, 340, AND 440, SNJ's, N3N's, N3S STERMANS, R3D, SNB, F8F BEARCAT, NORTH AMERICAN SABERLINER, BEECH KING AIR, F4U-5 CORSAIR, P-51 MUSTANG, GRUMAN F-4F, P-80, T-28, F6F Hell Cat, F4F Wildcat. Served in DOD (US Air Force) Service Officer and Comptroller Edwards AFB 1985-1988 Germany 1988-1991 and England 1991-1993. Served in Gulf War at Staging Base RAF Bentwaters, England. Goodfellow AFB 1993-1996.

DECORATIONS:
Decorations include: DFC with one gold star, Nine Air Medals, Two Purple Hearts, Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joing Services Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal with one Bronze Star, Organized Reserve Medal with Bronze Star, China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp, American Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, Victory Medal, WWII. Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Occupation Service Medal, Selective Service Outstanding Achievement Medal, and Pearl Harbor mandated congressional medal. Colonel Dickman was a contract Airline Pilot and Superintendent of Maintenance for Assoc. Air Transport and World Airlines. He was a First officer and Supt. of Maintenance, flying C-46, C54, C47 and DC-6 aircraft worldwide. He holds the following FAA Flight Certificates: Airline Transport Pilot Rating with type ratings for DC-3, C-46, Saberliner, Lockheed-18, Convair 240, 340 & 440, A&P license, Commercial Pilot License, Flight Instructor License for Commercial NEL, SEl, SES. Flight Examiner Rating for Private, Commercial, MEL, SEL, SES, and instruments. All Ground Instructors Ratings, Tower Operators License and Flight Navigator License. Member of Petroleum Club of San Antonio, Texas, Marine Corps Mustang Officers Assoc., Pearl Harbor Survivors, Life Member Military Order Purple Heart Assoc., Marine Scout Snipers Assoc., OX-5 Aviation Pioneers, FAA Designated Airline Superintendent of Maintenance, Member Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Assoc., Member US Marine Corp Association. He logged over 18,600 hours as a pilot and 1700 as Flight Navigator. William was preceded in death by his parents, William Claude Dickman and Neda Boubel; nephew, John Couch and brother-in-laws; Jo Ferrell Couch, Dr. Marshall Couch and Quest C. Couch. He is survived by his loving wife, Martha Couch Dickman of San Antonio, TX; daughter, Jeanie O'Brien and husband, Dennis O'Brien of Escondido, CA; son, John Johnstone and wife, Ruth of Visalia, CA; daughters, Beth Lynn Brown of San Antonio, TX and Brenda Fry and husband, Jud Fry of San Antonio, TX, Martha Ann (Chris) Johnson of San Antonio, TX; grandson, Kevin O'Brien of Escondido, CA; granddaughter, Sarah Johnstone, Grace Johnstone and Hanna Johnstone all of Visalia, CA; grandson, Wade Fry of San Antonio, TX; niece, Cathie Nelson and husband, James of Austin, TX; nephews, Jimmy Couch and wife, Ann of Round Rock, TX and Quest Couch of New Braunfels, TX; niece, Jan Couch and son, Jake Couch; nephew, Jo Couch of Houston, TX; nieces, Nancy Davis and husband, Barrett of Houston, TX, Leland Couch of Austin, TX , Judy Hamman and husband, Efford of Goliad, TX and Elizabeth Anderson and husband, Andy of El Dorado. MEMORIAL SERVICE WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 23, 2009
12:00 P.M.
LAUREL HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
227 W. WOODLAWN
The Rev. Buckner Fanning officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to LLC South Texas Research Therapeutics, 4383 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, Animal Friend No Kill Shelter, 213 W. Borgfeld Rd. San Antonio, TX 78260, www.animalfriendsforever.org/donations You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.porterloring.com