Dion Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dion Williams
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Brigadier General Dion Williams
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| Nickname(s) | Father of Marine amphibious reconnaissance |
| Born | December 18, 1869 Williamsburg, Ohio |
| Died | December 11, 1952 (aged 82) National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1893–1934 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 10th Marine Regiment 2nd Provisional Marine Brigade 4th Marine Regiment Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
Brigadier General Dion Williams (born December 15, 1869 – died December 11, 1952) was an important officer in the United States Marine Corps. He is known for being the "Father of Marine amphibious reconnaissance." This means he was one of the first people to study and push for the Marines to be experts at landing troops from ships onto enemy shores.
Williams served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1925 to 1928. During his long career, he fought in several conflicts. These included the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. He also took part in the Banana Wars in places like the Dominican Republic.
Williams' ideas helped shape how the Marine Corps operates today. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1934. He spent the rest of his life in Maryland.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
Dion Williams was born in Williamsburg, Ohio, on December 15, 1869. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1891. After two years serving on a ship, he became a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1893. He then served at Marine bases in New York and California. In 1895, he married Helen Mar Ames.
Fighting in the Spanish-American War
In 1898, Williams took part in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War. He was aboard the USS Baltimore with Admiral George Dewey. During the battle, Lieutenant Williams led a group of Marines ashore. They secured a Spanish naval base in Cavite City, Philippines. He was the one who raised the first American flag over Spanish land during that war.
Developing New Marine Tactics
After the Spanish-American War, Williams continued to serve. In 1902, he led Marines to disarm Colombian troops in Panama. He also served in the Philippine–American War.
From 1905 to 1907, Major Williams studied at the Naval War College. Here, he wrote an important study called Naval Reconnaissance, Instructions for the Reconnaissance of Bays, Harbors, and Adjacent Country. This paper became the first official guide for how the U.S. military should do "amphibious reconnaissance." This means secretly checking out enemy beaches and areas before a large landing of troops. His ideas were very advanced and were later included in the 1934 Tentative Manual for Landing Operations. This manual helped shape how the Marines conduct landings from the sea.
Important Commands and Later Career
Williams held many important positions throughout his career.
- From 1907 to 1909, he was the fleet Marine officer for the United States Fleet.
- He worked for the Office of Naval Intelligence from 1909 to 1912.
- From 1912 to 1915, he commanded the American Legation Guard in Beijing, China.
- He later commanded the 10th Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
- He also led the 2nd Provisional Marine Brigade in the Dominican Republic.
In 1924, Williams saw the first tests of an experimental "amphibious" tank. He also saw "beetle boats" being used to transport troops from ships to shore. These were early steps toward the landing craft used today.
From 1925 to 1928, Williams served as the Assistant to the Marine Commandant. He also commanded the Marine Occupation Force in Nicaragua from 1929 to 1930. Before he retired in 1934, he was the editor of the Marine Corps Gazette, a magazine for Marines.
Retirement and Legacy
After retiring, Dion Williams continued to write articles about military education. He stayed involved in Marine Corps affairs. In 1942, he took part in a ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland. This ceremony honored the flag he had raised in the Philippines back in 1898.
Brigadier General Williams passed away on December 11, 1952, at the age of 82. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His work in developing amphibious reconnaissance tactics left a lasting impact on the United States Marine Corps.
See also
- Amphibious warfare
- Marine Corps Gazette
