Changes: Les Dillon

Revision as of 05:50, 9 January 2008

Lester "Les" Dillon (b. circa 1900) was veteran platoon sargent in the US Marines. He first saw action in World War I, and later in several small US interventions in the Caribbean during the interwar period.

In 1942, after Japan had conquered Hawaii, Dillon was offered a promotion to gunnery sargent. Dillon declined, believing that the United States would soon retake Hawaii, an action he wanted to be part of. In June, 1942, Dillon was aboard a troopship that was part of a U.S. fleet bound for Hawaii. Two of the three aircraft carriers, Saratoga and Yorktown were sunk by the Japanese, and the Hornet was badly injured. The attack was called off, and Dillon and his men returned to California.

Dillon spent the remainder of 1942 and early 1943 training for a much larger invasion. He was among the first Marines to hit the northern beaches of Oahu. He saw fierce combat from both Japanese troops and soldiers in the Royal Hawaiian Army. Dillon was among the U.S. forces to raid Iolani Palace, and discovered the puppet monarchs dead.

Dillon expected to be shipped to Midway after Hawaii was secure.

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 '''Lester "Les" Dillon''' (b. circa 1900) was veteran platoon sargent in the [[United States Marine Corps (Days of Infamy)|US Marines]]. He first saw action in [[World War I]], and later in several small US interventions in the [[Caribbean]] during the interwar period.
-In 1942, after [[Japan (Days of Infamy)|Japan]] had conquered [[Hawaii (Days of Infamy)|Hawaii]], Dillon was offered a promotion to gunnery sargent.  Dillon declined, believing that the United States would soon retake Hawaii, an action he wanted to be part of.  In June, 1942, Dillon was aboard a troopship that was part of a U.S. fleet bound for Hawaii.  Two of the three aircraft carriers, ''[[Saratoga]]'' and ''[[Yorktown]]'' were sunk by the Japanese, and the ''[[Hornet]]'' was badly injured.  The attack was called off, and Dillon and his men returned to [[California (Days of Infamy)|California]].
+In 1942, after [[Japan (Days of Infamy)|Japan]] had conquered [[Hawaii (Days of Infamy)|Hawaii]], Dillon was offered a promotion to gunnery sargent.  Dillon declined, believing that the United States would soon retake Hawaii, an action he wanted to be part of.  In June, 1942, Dillon was aboard a troopship that was part of a U.S. fleet bound for Hawaii.  Two of the three aircraft carriers, ''[[Saratoga]]'' and ''[[Yorktown]]'' were sunk by the Japanese, and the ''[[Hornet]]'' was badly injured.  The attack was called off, and Dillon and his men returned to [[California#California in Days of Infamy|California]].
 Dillon spent the remainder of 1942 and early 1943 training for a much larger invasion.  He was among the first Marines to hit the northern beaches of Oahu.  He saw fierce combat from both Japanese troops and soldiers in the [[Royal Hawaiian Army]].  Dillon was among the U.S. forces to raid [[Iolani Palace]], and discovered the puppet monarchs dead.