Dale Bair

Dale W. Bair was a first lieutenant in the 6th Marine Division. He was awarded a Navy Cross and a Purple Heart for his actions in the Battle of Okinawa, during the assault on Sugar Loaf Hill on 13 May 1945. Bair had previously won the Silver Star at Engebi island during the Battle of Eniwetok in February 1944.[1]

Dale W. Bair
BornPocatello, Idaho
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Rank First lieutenant
Unit6th Marine Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Cross
Silver Star
Purple Heart

Sugar Loaf Hill

In the assault on Sugar Loaf Hill, Bair was part of an infantry assault supported by four tanks. Three of the four tanks were knocked out early on and many Marines were wounded. Despite his own wounds to the left arm, Bair picked up a Browning M1919 machine gun, draped it over his wounded left arm, and began charging towards the hill while firing the machine gun. Reaching the top of the hill, he sustained two more injuries, one to the leg and one to the buttocks, shortly before a retreat was ordered. When he made it back to the tank where the wounded Marines were being placed for the retreat, he refused to stop firing for medical attention and continued directing machine gun fire onto the enemy while receiving medical attention.[2]

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References
  1. "Valor awards for Dale W. Bair". militarytimes.com. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  2. "Marine Corps – Okinawa: Sugar Loaf Hill". jcs-group.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2010.


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