Dale Dye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dale Dye
|
|
|---|---|
Dye in 2008
|
|
| Born |
Dale Adam Dye Jr.
October 8, 1944 Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
|
| Education | Missouri Military Academy |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland University College (BA) |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Parent(s) |
|
| Awards | Order of Saint Maurice |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1964–84 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War |
| Awards |
|
Dale Adam Dye Jr., born on October 8, 1944, is an American actor, writer, and radio personality. He is also a special advisor for movies and TV shows. Dale Dye is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served as a Marine.
After his military service, Dye started a company called Warriors, Inc. This company helps Hollywood movies and TV shows make military scenes look very real. They teach actors how to act like soldiers. Dye has worked on many famous projects. These include the TV miniseries Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air. He has also advised on video games like the Medal of Honor series.
Dale Dye's Early Life
Dale Dye was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His father was a salesman. Young Dale often went with his father to places where he heard stories from World War II veterans. One story, told by a Marine who fought in the Pacific, really caught his attention. It was about fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
That night, Dale looked up the Battle of Iwo Jima. This made him decide he wanted to join the U.S. Marines. He went to military schools, first in Chicago and then in Mexico, Missouri.
Serving His Country
Dale Dye wanted to go to the United States Naval Academy, a special college for future Navy officers. But he couldn't pass the entrance exam. So, in January 1964, he joined the U.S. Marines as an enlisted soldier.
His unit was one of the first to go to Vietnam in 1965. Officers noticed that he was very observant and liked to write. They encouraged him to become a combat correspondent. This meant he would report on battles and military life. He became one of the few Marines to have this job. He wrote stories for military newspapers and for the hometown newspapers of his fellow Marines.
As a correspondent, he saw more battles than many regular soldiers. He gained huge respect for the "grunts," which is a nickname for infantry soldiers who do most of the fighting.
During the Tet Offensive in 1968, Dye was wounded. While recovering, he convinced his battalion commander to let him go back to the front lines as a correspondent. On March 18, 1968, he showed incredible bravery. He took the place of a machine gunner who had been killed. Even though he was wounded, he risked his life to get more ammunition. This helped his unit hold off enemy soldiers all night. He also rescued several wounded Marines and a Navy medic. For his heroic actions, he received the Bronze Star Medal with a "Combat V" device. This "V" shows that the award was for valor in combat.
Dale Dye served three tours of duty in South Vietnam. He took part in 31 combat operations. He spent 13 years as an enlisted Marine, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant. Later, he became a warrant officer and then a captain. He is known as a "mustang," which means he started as an enlisted soldier and later became an officer. In the early 1980s, he was sent to Beirut for duty with an international peacekeeping force.
A fellow Marine writer, Gustav Hasford, wrote about Dye in his novels. These books later inspired the movie Full Metal Jacket.
From Soldier to Storyteller
Dale Dye retired from the Marine Corps in 1984. He then started Warriors, Inc. His company helps make war movies and TV shows look real. They train actors to move and act like real soldiers. They also help directors plan and stage battle scenes. Warriors, Inc. is now the top military consulting company in Hollywood.
Dye earned a college degree in English while he was still in the Marines. After retiring, he worked for a magazine called Soldier of Fortune. He reported on conflicts in Central America. He also helped train troops there.
Dye has written several books, including novels like Run Between the Raindrops. He also wrote a book based on the movie Platoon. With his wife and an artist, he created a graphic novel called Code Word: Geronimo. This book tells the story of the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Dye was determined to make Hollywood's war scenes more realistic. He offered his help to many directors. Finally, he convinced Oliver Stone, a fellow Vietnam War veteran, to let him train the actors for the movie Platoon. Dye put the main actors through a tough 30-day "boot camp." He limited their food and water. He even fired blank gunshots at night to keep them awake and tired, just like real soldiers.
Dye also had a small role in Platoon as Captain Harris. After Platoon was a big success, Dye worked on many other war films. He played Colonel Robert Sink in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. His company also advised on that show. He also worked on Last of the Mohicans and The Pacific. In 2017, he was honored for making combat scenes look so real in movies.
Dye has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He played Lieutenant Colonel Briggs in Outbreak. He was an aide to General George Marshall in Saving Private Ryan. He also appeared in Mission: Impossible and Starship Troopers. He even played himself in the TV show Entourage. He taught a fictional character how to scuba-dive.
During the Iraq War, Dye became a military commentator for a radio station in Los Angeles. He also hosted a documentary series called The Conquerors on the History Channel. He advised on the Medal of Honor video games. He even lent his voice and likeness to a character named Gunnery Sergeant Jack Lauton. He also appeared in the video game series Brothers in Arms.
Military Awards
Dale Dye received many awards for his service in the military. Some of his most important awards include:
- Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" (for heroism)
- Purple Heart Medal (three times, for being wounded in combat)
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V"
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V"
- Combat Action Ribbon (twice)
