Dwight M. Deter
Lieutenant Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army

On 10 April 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Dwight M. Deter was serving with Headquarters, Visayan-Mindanao Guerilla Force, in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

On that day, LTC Deter's unit was in action against Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands. LTC Deter's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps) Dwight M. Deter (ASN: 0-264577), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, Visayan-Mindanao Guerilla Forces, in action against enemy forces on 10 April 1942, in the Philippine Islands. Lieutenant Colonel Deter's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 60 (1946)

Death and Memorialization

Lieutenant Colonel Dwight M. Deter was MIA / KIA on 24 October 1944, at Sea. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56748858