Dale Dye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dale Dye
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Dye in 2008
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| Born |
Dale Adam Dye Jr.
October 8, 1944 Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
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| Education | Missouri Military Academy |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland University College (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
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| 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 |
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| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War |
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Dale Adam Dye Jr. (born October 8, 1944) is an American actor, writer, and a special advisor for movies and TV shows. He is a decorated Marine veteran who fought in the Vietnam War. He also started a company called Warriors, Inc. This company helps make sure that military scenes in Hollywood movies look real.
Dale Dye has also shared his knowledge with TV shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air. He has also worked on video games, including the Medal of Honor series.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dale Dye was born on October 8, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His parents were Dale Adam Dye Sr. and Della Grace Koehler. When he was young, his father, who sold liquor, would take him to taverns. There, Dale heard many exciting war stories from World War II veterans.
One story, told by a Marine who fought in the Pacific, really caught Dale's attention. It was about hand-to-hand fighting. That night, Dale looked up the Battle of Iwo Jima and decided he wanted to join the U.S. Marines. He went to military schools, including St. Joseph's Military Academy in Chicago and the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri.
Military Career and Heroism
Dale Dye wanted to go to the United States Naval Academy, but he didn't pass the entrance exam. So, in January 1964, he joined the U.S. Marines. His unit was one of the first to go to Vietnam in 1965.
Officers noticed that Dale was very observant and enjoyed writing. They encouraged him to become a combat correspondent. This meant he would report on battles. He sent stories to military newspapers and to the hometown newspapers of his fellow Marines. As a correspondent, he saw more battles than many regular soldiers. He greatly respected the "grunts," which is a nickname for infantry soldiers who faced the toughest parts of combat.
Bravery During the Tet Offensive
In 1968, during the Tet Offensive, Dale Dye was wounded and had to recover. While he was recovering, his unit, the 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines, was getting ready for a mission called Operation Ford. Dale convinced the commander to let him go with them as a war correspondent.
During this mission, his battalion fought many times against the North Vietnamese Army. On March 18, 1968, a machine gunner was killed, and Dale took his place. Even though he was wounded, Dale bravely exposed himself to heavy enemy fire to get more ammunition for the machine gun. This helped his unit hold off the enemy all night. He also risked his life to rescue several wounded Marines and a Navy medic. Because of his brave actions, he received the Bronze Star Medal for heroism.
A fellow Marine correspondent, Bob Rea, said that Dale's "heart is with the grunts." He felt a strong connection to the soldiers who fought on the front lines. Dale participated in 31 combat operations during his three tours of duty in South Vietnam.
Rising Through the Ranks
Dale Dye spent 13 years as an enlisted Marine, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant. In 1976, he became a warrant officer. Later, he became a commissioned officer and was promoted to Captain. He is known as a "mustang," which means an enlisted person who later becomes an officer.
As a Captain, he was sent to Beirut in 1982 and 1983 to serve with the Multinational Force in Lebanon. Soon after he returned, the Marine barracks in Beirut were attacked, and 241 Americans died.
Journalist Michael Herr wrote about Dale Dye during the chaos of the Tet Offensive and the Battle of Huế. He described Dye as a Marine correspondent who seemed happy even when bullets were flying close by, showing his incredible bravery.
Later Career in Hollywood
Dale Dye retired from the Marine Corps in 1984. He then started his company, Warriors, Inc. This company helps train actors in war films to make their roles look very real. They also help with research, planning, and advising directors on set. His company is now the top military consultant in Hollywood.
While in the Marines, Dale Dye was a combat correspondent and earned a degree in English. After retiring, he worked for Soldier of Fortune magazine for a year. During that time, he worked in Central America, training troops and reporting on conflicts.
Making Movies Realistic
Dale Dye was determined to make battle scenes in Hollywood movies more realistic. He offered his services to many directors. Finally, he convinced Oliver Stone, who was also a Vietnam War veteran, to let him train the actors for the movie Platoon.
Dale put the main actors, including Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, and Forest Whitaker, through a tough 30-day military training camp. He limited their food and water, and even fired blank shots while they slept to keep them awake. Dale also had a small role in the movie as Captain Harris. He also wrote the book version of Stone's movie script.
After Platoon was a big success, Dale Dye continued to work as a military advisor. He worked on the 1992 film Last of the Mohicans. He also advised on the famous HBO series Band of Brothers (2001). Producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg asked for his help again for their next series, The Pacific (2010), and the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air (2024). In 2017, Dale Dye was made an Honorary Member of the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment. This was to recognize his great work in making combat scenes in movies look very real.
Acting Roles
After Platoon, Dale Dye acted in another Vietnam War movie, Casualties of War. He also famously played Colonel Robert Sink in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, where his company also worked.
He has appeared in many other films, often playing military officers. These include Outbreak, Saving Private Ryan (as an aide to General George Marshall), Under Siege, Mission: Impossible, JFK, and Starship Troopers.
Dale Dye also played Colonel Porter in the TNT science fiction series Falling Skies from 2011 to 2013. He even played himself in the TV series Entourage, teaching a character how to scuba-dive.
Writing and Other Work
Dale Dye has written several novels, including Run Between the Raindrops (1985) and Conduct Unbecoming (1992). He also wrote the book version of the film Platoon. With his wife Julia and artist Gerry Kissell, he created the graphic novel Code Word: Geronimo (2011). This book tells the story of the Navy SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden's compound.
During the Iraq War, Dale Dye was a military commentator for a radio station in Los Angeles and hosted his own show. He also hosted the History Channel's documentary series The Conquerors.
He also advised on the development of the Medal of Honor video game series. He lent his voice and appearance to the character Gunnery Sergeant Jack Lauton in Medal of Honor: Rising Sun. He also voiced Colonel Robert Sink in the Brothers in Arms video game series.
Military Awards and Honors
Dale Dye has received many military awards for his service and bravery. Some of his notable awards include:
- Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" (for valor)
- Purple Heart (three times, for being wounded in combat)
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V" (twice)
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V"
- Combat Action Ribbon (twice)
He also received several unit awards and service medals for his time in Vietnam and other deployments.
Images for kids
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Dye in 2008
