Byron B. Dickinson
Private First Class, U.S. Army

In June 1944, Private First Class Byron B. Dickinson was serving with an Infantry Company of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, First U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations.

After landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day 10 days earlier, on 16 June, PFC Dickinson's unit was in action against German forces in the thick hedgerows of Normandy, France. While attacking the many strongly-fortified hedgerow positions, 2 assault squads of PFC Dickinson's platoon were pinned to the ground by heavy fire. Voluntarily moving to the front of the leading squad, PFC Dickinson sprayed the hedgerow with automatic rifle fire. Although painfully wounded in this action, he continued forward and was the first to reach the hedgerow. Rising to a half-kneeling position, PFC Dickinson placed automatic rifle over the hedgerow and poured devastating fire upon the enemy emplacements, enabling his squad to reach positions from which a successful assault was launched a short time later. PFC Dickinson'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
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Byron B. Dickinson (ASN: 6258277), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 16 June 1944, in France. While attacking strongly fortified hedgerow positions, two assault squads of Private First Class Dickinson's platoon were pinned to the ground by a heavy volume of fire. Voluntarily moving to the head of the leading squad, Private First Class Dickinson sprayed the hedgerow with intense automatic rifle fire. Although painfully wounded, he continued forward and was the first to reach the hedgerow. Rising to a half-kneeling position, he placed his automatic rifle over the hedgerow and poured devastating fire upon the enemy emplacements, thus permitting his squad to reach positions from which a successful assault was launched a short while later. Private First Class Dickinson's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 29 (February 17, 1945)

Death and Burial

Private First Class Byron B. Dickinson died on 19 January 1977. He is buried at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, OK, in Plot: 10, 0, 790.

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