Tracy Campbell Dickson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tracy Dickson
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Brig. gen. Dickson, Office Chief of Ordonance in April 1918
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| Born | September 17, 1868 Independence, Iowa |
| Died | May 17, 1936 (aged 67) Haverford, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Ordnance Corps |
| Years of service | 1892–1914 1916–1933 |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Service number | 0-359 |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Spouse(s) | Isabella Kendrick Abbott |
| Children | 2 |
Tracy Campbell Dickson (September 17, 1868 – May 17, 1936) was an important officer in the United States Army. He served in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He helped with many big projects, like building the Panama Canal. He also worked on designing important weapons for the Army.
Contents
A Bright Start in the Army
Tracy Dickson was born in Independence, Iowa, on September 17, 1868. His father had fought in the American Civil War. This might have inspired Tracy to join the military.
Tracy went to the West Point school. He graduated in 1892, ranking sixth in his class. He first joined the Second Artillery. Later, he moved to the Ordnance Corps as a first lieutenant. The Ordnance Corps handles military weapons and ammunition.
Early Assignments
From 1894 to 1899, Dickson worked at the Springfield Armory. This was a place where weapons were made. He helped the commanding officer and worked as an inspector.
Between 1899 and 1902, he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal. He was an assistant there too. From 1902 to 1906, he helped the Chief of Ordnance.
Important Projects
From 1906 to 1910, Dickson worked at Sandy Hook Proving Ground. This was a testing site for weapons. During this time, he joined several important groups.
In 1898, he was on a board with the Army, Navy, and Marines. Their goal was to make all their gun calibers (the size of the bullet) the same. He also helped choose the M1903 Springfield rifle for the Army. This rifle became very famous.
Helping Build the Panama Canal
Tracy Dickson played a big part in building the Panama Canal. This huge canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. From 1907 to 1910, he was on the Isthmian Canal Commission. He supervised repair work for the canal. He also helped design permanent repair shops.
Between 1910 and 1914, he was an inspector for the shops. These shops were vital for the canal's construction. In April 1914, Dickson decided to retire. He held the rank of colonel at that time.
Return to Service and World War I
On September 17, 1916, Tracy Dickson was called back to duty. He worked at the Watertown Armory. He also helped choose several Browning machine guns for the military. These machine guns were very important for soldiers.
On March 17, 1917, he took command of the Watertown Arsenal. On January 10, 1918, Dickson was promoted. He became a brigadier general. This is a very high rank in the Army.
After serving as the Assistant Chief of Ordnance, Dickson oversaw production at Bethlehem Steel. This company made a lot of materials for the war. He later moved back to Watertown, New York. There, he led the building of the arsenal. In 1920, he was put in charge of all the ordnance schools. He retired from the Army in 1933.
Later Life
After retiring, Tracy Dickson moved to Haverford, Pennsylvania. He lived with his son there. He passed away on May 17, 1936, while out for a walk.
