Ernest J. Dawley

Major General Ernest Joseph "Mike" Dawley (17 February 1886 – 10 December 1973) was a senior officer of the United States Army, best known during World War II for commanding the VI Corps during Operation Avalanche, the Allied landings at Salerno, Italy, in 1943. After the landings, he was relieved of his command by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, commander of the Fifth Army, and returned to the United States.

Early life and military career

Dawley was born on 17 February 1886 in Antigo, Wisconsin. After graduation from Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, he entered the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, in 1906, at the age of 20. He graduated 24th in a class of 83 four years later on 15 June 1910 and was also commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army. Among his fellow graduates included men such as Frederick S. Strong Jr., Creswell Garlington, Oscar Solbert, Beverly C. Dunn, Donald H. Connolly, Raymond F. Fowler, David McCoach Jr., Fred C. Wallace, Burton O. Lewis, Harry Chamberlin, James I. Muir, John Millikin, Durward S. Wilson, Charles Hines, Walter H. Frank, Jack W. Heard, Frederick E. Uhl, Oscar Griswold, Duncan G. Richart, Robert H. Dunlop and Emil F. Reinhardt.

Dawley served in both the United States and in the Philippines, attending various schools. He took part in the Mexican Punitive Expedition in 1916, serving under the command of Brigadier General John J. Pershing. He was promoted to major in February 1918. He stayed in this capacity until May 1918, when he was transferred to the 12th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 2nd Division. For his service with the 12th Field Artillery, Dawley was decorated with the Silver Citation Star for gallantry in action near Vierzy, France. The citation for the medal reads:

At the end of July 1918, he was transferred to the General Staff of the U.S. First Army. He was also promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in this capacity. He was briefly assistant chief of staff for the field artillery of the U.S. Second Army. During this assignment the war ended, on 11 November 1918. On 20 November he served with the 16th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 4th Infantry Division. In particular, Gavin, who spent a lot of time with Dawley at Salerno, believed that Dawley did as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Nevertheless, Dawley was replaced as VI Corps commander by Major General John P. Lucas, who was in turn replaced in February 1944 during Operation Shingle some five months later.

Dawley left Salerno for Algiers, where he was to meet with Eisenhower; however, Eisenhower was not available, and Dawley was handed a brief letter informing him that by command of General Eisenhower, as of 23 September 1943 his temporary rank of major general was terminated, and as of 24 September 1943 he was reverted to his permanent Regular Army rank of colonel in the Field Artillery. Dawley returned to the United States and was assigned as the commander of the Tank Destroyer School and Center at Camp Hood, Texas, the first of several appointments to military training establishments. Upon his retirement on 30 September 1947. he was promoted to brigadier general. However, the Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals states that he was "commanding general" of the Tank Destroyer Center from February 1944 to March 1945.

After Dawley retired from the army in 1947, he was promoted to the rank of major general (retired) on 29 June 1948.

Postwar Dawley died on 8 September 1973 at Silas B. Hays Army Hospital at Fort Ord, California, almost exactly 30 years since the Salerno landings. His body was cremated and ashes scattered at sea.