THE WALL OF FACES

Edward Andrew Dickson
Date of birth: September 3, 1937
Date of death: MIA: February 7, 1965
Burial location: Honolulu, HI
Home of record: Wyoming Pennsylvania
Status: MIA

Edward Dickson was listed as Missing in Action after the action that earned him the Navy Cross on February 7, 1965. His remains have never been recovered.
AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Navy Cross

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Edward Andrew Dickson (NSN: 0-646194), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism on 7 February 1965 while serving as a jet attack Pilot with Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (VA-155), aboard the U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43), during a retaliatory air strike against the Dong Hoi Army Barracks and staging area in North Vietnam. When his aircraft was struck by intense enemy anti-aircraft fire on the low-level run-in to the target area burst into flame, Lieutenant Dickson elected to remain with his burning aircraft until he had released his bombs on the target area. Following his attack, he headed toward the sea where he ejected from his flaming aircraft. By his inspiring and courageous devotion to duty, Lieutenant Dickson upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

Action Date: February 7, 1965

Service: Navy

Rank: Lieutenant

Company: Attack Squadron 155 (VA-155)

Division: U.S.S. Coral Sea (CVA-43)

The first major air strike over North Vietnam took place in reaction to Viet Cong mortaring of an American advisor's compound at Pleiku on February 7, 1965. Eight Americans died in the attack, more than one hundred were wounded, and ten aircraft were destroyed. President Johnson immediately launched FLAMING DART I, a strike against the Vit Thu Lu staging area, fifteen miles inland and five miles north of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Thirty-four aircraft launched from the USS RANGER, but were prevented from carrying out that attack by poor weather, and the RANGER aircraft were not allowed to join the forty-nine planes from the USS CORAL SEA and USS HANCOCK, which struck the North Vietnamese army barracks and port facilities at Dong Hoi. LT Edward A. Dickson was an A-4E Skyhawk pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 155 onboard the CORAL SEA. Dickson was a section leader in a four-plane flight on the strike at Dong Hoi. About 5 miles south of the target area, LT Dickson reported that his aircraft had been hit by ground fire. His wingman was instructed to look his aircraft over for damage as they continued to approach the final run-in to the target. Just prior to reaching the bomb release point, LT Dickson's left wing burst into flames and the wingman notified of that fact. At this time the flight leader gave the signal to drop the bombs. Dickson continued in his bomb run, turning out to sea only after his last bomb had left the aircraft. Upon completing the bombing run, the flight made an immediate turn to head for the sea, and for easier rescue. As the flight continued to the coastline it was noted that the left wing of Dickson's aircraft was completely engulfed in flames. He was instructed to eject, and upon ejection, the canopy and ejection seat were observed to leave the plane. Partly because the aircraft were traveling at a high rate of speed, no one was sure Dickson himself left the aircraft, nor was a parachute seen deployed. The crippled A-4 crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin approximately one-half mile off shore. Search and rescue facilities were alerted and accompanying aircraft circled in the vicinity of the crash site for roughly 15 minutes without being able to locate their downed comrade. Weather conditions in the target area were overcast with multiple stratus cloud layers. The search was terminated two days later with no results. LT Dickson, because he was lost over water, was classified Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered. His name is listed among the missing because no remains were ever found to return home. LT Dickson's loss was indeed ironic, or possibly just symbolic of the deadly business of naval aviation. One year earlier, Dickson had narrowly evaded death after ejecting from an A-4 during a training exercise over the Sierra Nevada range in California. His parachute failed to open, but Dickson landed in a thirty-foot snowdrift and survived. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Dear LT Edward Andrew Dickson, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

You gave your life for your country and for this we Salute You.

Photo is courtesy of Rodger Nelson.