Albany in Shackelford County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Lt. Colonel William Edwin Dyess

1916 - 1943

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 27, 2015

1. Lt. Colonel William Edwin Dyess Marker

Inscription. Edwin Dyess remains Shackelford County’s most decorated serviceman. Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene is named in his honor. Born and educated in Albany and John Tarleton College, he joined the Army Air Force in 1938 and received his wings at Randolph Field. After three years he was promoted to Captain and put in command of the 21st Pursuit Squadron of 18 new Curtis P-40E fighter planes. In November 1941, due to the Japanese menace in Asia, the 21st Squadron was sent to the Philippine Islands. A month later, the Japanese attacked. Flying his P-40 off crude Bataan airsrips, Dyess fought them vigorously, shooting down five planes, and strafing, bombing and sinking their ships in Subic Bay. When all U.S. pilots on Bataan were order to fly south to safety, Dyess refused to leave his men and organized them as ground fighters. When all U.S. forces were surrendered, Dyess and his men endured the infamous Bataan Death march where brutal Japanese treatment caused hundreds of deaths of their prisoners. Dyess later escaped from a prison camp and met up with guerilla fighters who put him in touch with a U.S. submarine that took him to

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Australia. Returning to the U.S., he was the first to report the Japanese atrocities that killed one in three of their prisoners of war in WW II. After recuperation, he returned to active duty and was killed in the crash of a new P-38 fighter plane near Burbank, California on Dec. 22, 1943. He was 27 years old and is buried in Albany. Dyess was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Erected 2006.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Valor in Aerial Operations series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1941.

Location. 32° 43.388′ N, 99° 17.812′ W. Marker is in Albany, Texas, in Shackelford County. It can be reached from the intersection of S. 2nd Street (State Highway 6) and S. Main Street (U.S. 283), on the right when traveling east. Marker is located in the northwest corner of the grounds of the Shackelford County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 S Main St,

Heroes' Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 27, 2015

2. Heroes' Monument

Dyess bas relief portrait and biographical tablet is in the center

Albany TX 76430, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rear Admiral Emory Arden Grantham (here, next to this marker); Lt. General Robert Boyd Williams (here, next to this marker); James Robert Green (here, next to this marker); Lt. Col. William E. Dyess (here, next to this marker); Shackelford County War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Texas Cattle Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Jack Shackelford (within shouting distance of this marker); First Producing Oil Well in West Texas (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

More about this marker. The marker is part of the Albany Heroes' Monument created by Duke Sundt. The monument includes

Soldiers and Sailors Markers<br>at Shackelford County Courthouse Grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 27, 2015

3. Soldiers and Sailors Markers
at Shackelford County Courthouse Grounds

bas relief portraits and biographical tablets for Lt. General Robert Boyd Williams, Lt. Colonel William Edwin Dyess, and Rear Admiral Emory Arden Grantham.

Also see . . . William Dyess - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on July 16, 2015.)

Shackelford County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 27, 2015

4. Shackelford County Courthouse

Marker is in northwest corner of the courthouse grounds

View to Northwest towards Intersection<br>of S. Main Street (US 283) and S. 2nd Street (SH 6) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 27, 2015

5. View to Northwest towards Intersection
of S. Main Street (US 283) and S. 2nd Street (SH 6)

Courthouse Grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 27, 2015

6. Courthouse Grounds

View to southeast across S. 2nd Street

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 16, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.