Member of the Baylor University Class of 1933 (Degree in Geology)
United States Army Veteran (Captain; WWII)
D-Day Veteran.
He was personally-pinned the Distinguished Service Cross award by then-General of the US Army Dwight D. Eisenhower for both his leadership & bravery.
"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 Captain (Infantry) Joseph T. Dawson (ASN: 0-452348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. Captain Dawson, in the initial landing on the coast of France, disembarked under a hail of enemy machine gun & rifle fire, & with utmost calmness, proceeded to organize a large group of men who were floundering near their bullet-riddled craft & led them ashore. However, upon reaching the beach, he found that his company was pinned down by direct fire from three enemy machine guns which were placed in an enemy strongpoint in a cliff immediately beyond the heavily mined sands. With absolute disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Dawson moved from his position of cover on to the minefield deliberately drawing the fire of the enemy machine guns in order that his men might be free to move. This heroic diversion succeeded & his combat group crossed the beach to move into the assault on the enemy strongpoint. During this action, Captain Dawson was wounded in the leg. In a superb display of courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, Captain Dawson although wounded, led a successful attack into the enemy stronghold. Captain Dawson's outstanding leadership, gallantry & zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army." -Headquarters, First US Army; General Orders #31 (July 1, 1944)
Following the end of the war, Dawson returned to Corpus Christi, TX where he continued his career as a geologist, working to develop oil & gas reserves in that region until shortly before his passing.
In June of 1994, Dawson was selected by the US Army to not only introduce then-42nd US President Bill Clinton, but to speak at the ceremony commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in France as the representative of the surviving veterans who had landed that day.
United States Army Veteran (Captain; WWII)
D-Day Veteran.
He was personally-pinned the Distinguished Service Cross award by then-General of the US Army Dwight D. Eisenhower for both his leadership & bravery.
"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 Captain (Infantry) Joseph T. Dawson (ASN: 0-452348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. Captain Dawson, in the initial landing on the coast of France, disembarked under a hail of enemy machine gun & rifle fire, & with utmost calmness, proceeded to organize a large group of men who were floundering near their bullet-riddled craft & led them ashore. However, upon reaching the beach, he found that his company was pinned down by direct fire from three enemy machine guns which were placed in an enemy strongpoint in a cliff immediately beyond the heavily mined sands. With absolute disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Dawson moved from his position of cover on to the minefield deliberately drawing the fire of the enemy machine guns in order that his men might be free to move. This heroic diversion succeeded & his combat group crossed the beach to move into the assault on the enemy strongpoint. During this action, Captain Dawson was wounded in the leg. In a superb display of courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, Captain Dawson although wounded, led a successful attack into the enemy stronghold. Captain Dawson's outstanding leadership, gallantry & zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army." -Headquarters, First US Army; General Orders #31 (July 1, 1944)
Following the end of the war, Dawson returned to Corpus Christi, TX where he continued his career as a geologist, working to develop oil & gas reserves in that region until shortly before his passing.
In June of 1994, Dawson was selected by the US Army to not only introduce then-42nd US President Bill Clinton, but to speak at the ceremony commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in France as the representative of the surviving veterans who had landed that day.
Member of the Baylor University Class of 1933 (Degree in Geology)
United States Army Veteran (Captain; WWII)
D-Day Veteran.
He was personally-pinned the Distinguished Service Cross award by then-General of the US Army Dwight D. Eisenhower for both his leadership & bravery.
"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 Captain (Infantry) Joseph T. Dawson (ASN: 0-452348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. Captain Dawson, in the initial landing on the coast of France, disembarked under a hail of enemy machine gun & rifle fire, & with utmost calmness, proceeded to organize a large group of men who were floundering near their bullet-riddled craft & led them ashore. However, upon reaching the beach, he found that his company was pinned down by direct fire from three enemy machine guns which were placed in an enemy strongpoint in a cliff immediately beyond the heavily mined sands. With absolute disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Dawson moved from his position of cover on to the minefield deliberately drawing the fire of the enemy machine guns in order that his men might be free to move. This heroic diversion succeeded & his combat group crossed the beach to move into the assault on the enemy strongpoint. During this action, Captain Dawson was wounded in the leg. In a superb display of courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, Captain Dawson although wounded, led a successful attack into the enemy stronghold. Captain Dawson's outstanding leadership, gallantry & zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army." -Headquarters, First US Army; General Orders #31 (July 1, 1944)
Following the end of the war, Dawson returned to Corpus Christi, TX where he continued his career as a geologist, working to develop oil & gas reserves in that region until shortly before his passing.
In June of 1994, Dawson was selected by the US Army to not only introduce then-42nd US President Bill Clinton, but to speak at the ceremony commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in France as the representative of the surviving veterans who had landed that day.
United States Army Veteran (Captain; WWII)
D-Day Veteran.
He was personally-pinned the Distinguished Service Cross award by then-General of the US Army Dwight D. Eisenhower for both his leadership & bravery.
"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 Captain (Infantry) Joseph T. Dawson (ASN: 0-452348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. Captain Dawson, in the initial landing on the coast of France, disembarked under a hail of enemy machine gun & rifle fire, & with utmost calmness, proceeded to organize a large group of men who were floundering near their bullet-riddled craft & led them ashore. However, upon reaching the beach, he found that his company was pinned down by direct fire from three enemy machine guns which were placed in an enemy strongpoint in a cliff immediately beyond the heavily mined sands. With absolute disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Dawson moved from his position of cover on to the minefield deliberately drawing the fire of the enemy machine guns in order that his men might be free to move. This heroic diversion succeeded & his combat group crossed the beach to move into the assault on the enemy strongpoint. During this action, Captain Dawson was wounded in the leg. In a superb display of courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, Captain Dawson although wounded, led a successful attack into the enemy stronghold. Captain Dawson's outstanding leadership, gallantry & zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army." -Headquarters, First US Army; General Orders #31 (July 1, 1944)
Following the end of the war, Dawson returned to Corpus Christi, TX where he continued his career as a geologist, working to develop oil & gas reserves in that region until shortly before his passing.
In June of 1994, Dawson was selected by the US Army to not only introduce then-42nd US President Bill Clinton, but to speak at the ceremony commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in France as the representative of the surviving veterans who had landed that day.
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