Douglas Clark Dillard, "Doug", a resident of Bowie, MD for 42 years died
on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in Annapolis, MD due to pancreatic
cancer. Born on September 14, 1925 in Atlanta, GA, Doug enlisted into
the US Army in 1942 at age 16.
Doug left for basic training July 3rd, 1942 and recalled “When we
learned about the Paratroopers, we all wanted to become Paratroopers.”
He got his wish and was assigned to the newly formed 551st Parachute
Infantry Battalion after training. Later in the year the unit was sent
to the Panama Canal Zone to prepare for the airborne assault on the
pro-German island of Martinique which was cancelled. From there he
prepared for the assault into southern France “Operation Dragoon” on 15
August 1944. There he made his first combat jump as a Communications
Sergeant one month before his 18th birthday. During the operation Doug
and some fellow paratroopers captured the German Major-General in
control of the district and the Corps Commander and his staff causing
confusion in the German defense. Doug took the pistol from the Corps
Commander and kept it after the war. The 551st continued to fight its
way along the coast of France to the Italian border and held its ground
along the Maritime Alps until relieved in early winter of 1944. On 16
December the unit was moved to the Ardennes where they joined elements
of the 82nd Airborne. It was during the Bulge that he and his unit
conducted one of the rare bayonet attacks of WWII for which the unit was
awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Doug and the 551st were involved
in continuous combat until the unit was deactivated after suffering
tremendous casualties during the Battle of the Bulge. He was reassigned
to the 82nd Airborne Division to Company C, 508th Parachute Infantry
Regiment.
After WWII, he held several positions as a 1st Sergeant and Command
Sergeant Major in airborne units. Doug had advanced from Private to
Sergeant Major between the years 1942 and 1946. He received a direct
commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1946.
With the onset of the Korean War, then Captain Dillard served as
Commander, Special Air Missions Team and Tactical Liaison Office. He
trained and led US and Republic of Korea forces in unconventional
warfare behind the North Korean and Communist Chinese Forces’ lines. For
his heroism in these operations, he was decorated by the Republic of
Korea.
Upon his return from Korea, he continued to serve in military
intelligence in Europe, coordinating collection between Military
intelligence groups and the CIA during the Cold War. In 1967, he was
sent to Vietnam to MACV in the Mekong Delta and to head the Phoenix
Program. The Phoenix Program was created to disrupt the Vietcong
political infrastructure in South Vietnam. When he completed his second
year command tour he moved to his next assignment, with the 500th
Military Intelligence Group, where he feels he did some of his finest
work. |
Colonel Dillard commanded the 500th Military Intelligence Group and
managed all U.S. military intelligence activities in Southeast Asia. The
government of South Vietnam recognized his bravery with four awards of
the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, the highest level of this
award.
Doug received numerous decorations and foreign awards for his
outstanding abilities in various classified intelligence programs in
Europe, the Far East and Vietnam as well as combat bravery. Some of
those decorations include Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation,
and Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Infantry Badge with 3 stars,
Master Parachutist Badge, French Croix de Guerre w/ss, Order of Saint
Maurice, and the ROK Medal of Merit.
Douglas retired at the grade of Colonel in 1977 after 35 years of
service and three wars holding every rank in the US Army up to Colonel.
Doug is one of the founding fathers of Special Forces and an original
leader of the Army Counterterrorism Unit: Detachment-Delta, commonly
known as “Delta Force”. In 1990 he was inducted into the Military
Intelligence Hall of Fame and in 2014 the Georgia Military Veterans Hall
of Fame. Doug received a BS from University of Maryland in Military
Science in 1962, a Masters Degree in International Relations from
University of Boston in 1965 and attended Catholic University working
toward his Doctorate.
Upon retirement Colonel Dillard began a new career in the private sector
and authored several books on Special and Airborne Operations during the
Korean War. Colonel Dillard was active in the Colonel Reuben H. Tucker
Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association, President of the Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge Association and numerous other veteran
organizations.
Doug continued to enjoy his trips to France, Belgium and Korea sharing
his life experiences with new friends and family.
Doug was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Virginia H. Dillard.
He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia D. Alley of Bowie, MD, Lynne
Dillard of Lakeland, FL, Cheryl Staurulakis of Annapolis, MD and
Michelle D. Howle of Melbourne, FL; his grandchildren, John, Douglas and
Nicholas Staurulakis, Ryan and Rachel Resnick, Melissa Dowling, Amy
Harrison and Brandi Matz and 7 great-grandchildren.
Friends are invited to celebrate Douglas' life on Sunday from 12 to 2
and 4 to 6 pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island
Rd., Edgewater, MD where his funeral service will be held on Monday,
September 18 at 11 am. Interment with full military honors will be at
Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made to the Douglas Dillard Memorial Fund, c/o Dan
Laheru, Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, CRB 1, Room 4M09,
Baltimore, MD 21287. |
Grave marker for
Douglas C. Dillard in Section 31, Site 1154, Arlington National
Cemetery, Arlington (Arlington county), Virginia.
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