Dean Rockwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dean Rockwell |
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| Born | May 25, 1912 Cass County, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | August 8, 2005 (aged 93) Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. |
Dean Ladrath Rockwell (born May 25, 1912 – died August 8, 2005) was an amazing American who did many important things in his life. He was a brave leader during World War II, especially on D-Day. He also coached the U.S. Olympic wrestling team and was a college football coach.
Biography
Early Life and Work
Dean Rockwell went to Eastern Michigan University and finished in 1935. After college, he taught and coached sports like track, wrestling, and football at different high schools in Michigan. He also worked in a car factory and was part of a big workers' protest called the Flint Sit-Down Strike in 1936–1937.
Hero in World War II
On May 17, 1942, Dean Rockwell joined the United States Navy. He became a leader of 12 special boats called LCTs. These boats carried tanks and soldiers. He played a very important role during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France.
Dean Rockwell made a very brave decision during D-Day. He broke radio silence, which was against orders, to warn an Army captain about a big problem. His quick thinking helped change plans at the last minute. This saved thousands of lives and helped the attack succeed.
For his bravery, Rockwell received two very important awards: the U.S. Navy Cross and the French Croix de Guerre. The Navy Cross is one of the highest honors for bravery in the U.S. Navy. Fifty years later, in 1994, Dean Rockwell was honored at the D-Day anniversary and even introduced President Bill Clinton.
A famous historian named Stephen Ambrose wrote about Dean Rockwell in his book, D-Day, June 6, 1944. He said that Rockwell's decision was perhaps the most important command decision made by any junior officer on D-Day.
Coaching Career and Honors
After the war, Rockwell studied at the University of Michigan. He then became a football coach at Albion College.
Dean Rockwell also coached wrestling at a high level. He led the U.S. National AAU Wrestling Committee from 1966 to 1968. He was part of three Olympic wrestling committees and coached the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
In May 1995, Wrestling USA magazine gave him the "Master of Wrestling Award." In 2000, the biggest wrestling library in the country, the new AAU National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was named the "Dean Rockwell Library and Research Center" in his honor. In January 2007, Eastern Michigan University named a gymnasium the "Dean L. Rockwell Wrestling Facility" to remember him.
