The 50th inductee to the Alabama Military Hall of Honor was added Friday during a brisk clear autumn day at Marion Military Institute.

The ceremonies and parade were well-attended by the family of inductee 1st Lt. Douglas M. Dickerson as well as friends and alumni of MMI.

The program master of ceremonies was Col. Tom Tate (Ret.), and recognition of guest and speaker for the induction address was Col. David J. Mollahan USMC (Ret.).

Mollahan also made the presentation of the induction of 1st Lt. Dickerson to his family, represented by Wayne Dickerson.

Col. Deborra Street, MMI, was in charge of the musical presentation at the induction ceremonies, on the parade field and lunch in the Ireland Center.

Of course, the day was centered around paying tribute to another military hero from Alabama.

It occurs each year amid a perfect setting on a military school campus with all the young cadets participating. It is difficult not to come away without an overwhelming admiration and respect for those inducted in the Hall of Honor and for a renewal of hope for the future based on the performance of the young cadet corps.

The Alabama Military Hall of Honor is a sacred place for native Alabamians who distinguished themselves while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

Within the hallowed walls of the “Old City Hall Building” on the campus of Marion Military Institute are the enshrined inductees’ bronze bas-relief plaques and other personal items.

The Hall of Honor is a walk through of men who demonstrated tremendous gallantry and heroism on the battlefield.

Doug Dickerson (1924-2015), the 2015 inductee, is another native son of Alabama who demonstrated exceptional bravery and courage in the face of hostile enemy actions at Anzio during World War II. He rightfully took his place alongside others in the Hall of Honor on Oct. 30.

Lt. Dickerson was born in Falkville in 1924. He grew up in Edgewater and attended Minor High School. Dickerson received a draft notice shortly after his 18th birthday, but was allowed to finish the school year. He reported for examination on July 27, 1943, and was called for service in August. After 17 weeks of intense infantry training at Camp Croft, South Carolina, a brief leave home, and another five weeks at Fort Meade, Maryland, Dickerson boarded the troopship USS Buckner at Newport News, Virginia headed for parts unknown. The ship arrived eight days later at Casablanca, North Africa on March 3, 1944.

Dickerson’s final destination was the beachhead at Anzio, Italy with stops along the way at Oran, North Africa and Naples, Italy. The landings at Anzio began on Jan. 22, 1944, with little more than a beachhead established a few miles inland before stiff resistance from the Germans impeded the operation. It was under these difficult conditions, Dickerson received his baptism under enemy fire. Called the “Anzio abscess” by Adolph Hitler, Anzio developed into four months of some of the most savage fighting of World War II.

Dickerson, still an enlisted man at the time, was assigned to “C” Company, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division known as the “Red Bull” Division. He earned his first of two Silver Stars as a sergeant at or near Lanuvio, Italy on June 3, 1944. General Order No. 81 cited Sgt. Dickerson for gallantry in action. Pinned down in open terrain by enemy fire, Dickerson made his way through withering enemy machine gun fire with a grenade launcher and eliminated the enemy threat.

The second Silver Star was awarded for gallantry in action on July 4, 1944, near the town of Rosignano, Italy. Staff Sgt. Dickerson took leadership of his platoon after his platoon leader and platoon sergeant had been wounded leading them to rally and dislodge an enemy position on higher ground.

During a strong counter-attack, Dickerson observed two of the enemy penetrating their defenses with machine pistols headed toward the Company Commander. He sprang into action under heavy small arms fire taking careful aim and eliminating the intruders before they could take the Company Commander out. He then returned to directing his platoon throwing back the numerically superior forces trying to overrun their positions.

Shortly after the second Silver Star, Dickerson was appointed the military Governor of Gavi, Italy and the surrounding cities. Here is a young man at the age of 20 entrusted with awesome responsibilities. A testament itself to his maturity and trustworthiness. Staff Sergeant Dickerson accepted a battlefield commission on Feb. 3, 1945, to 2nd Lieutenant and later promoted to 1st Lieutenant. In addition to two Silver Stars, Lt. Dickerson also earned the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge and several other awards and ribbons for his service. He served from July, 27, 1943, until March 8, 1946, a total of two years, seven months and nine days.

James G. Smith is a regular contributor to The Selma Times-Journal.