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Douglas Dickey
Medal of Honor Exhibit to be Unveiled
The second program in Garst Museum’s speaker series, on Friday,
November 14, will include the unveiling of a new exhibit honoring Darke
County native Douglas Dickey. Dickey grew up in Rossburg and graduated
from Ansonia High School, where he was a football player and manager of
the basketball team, as well as being a member of the Darke County
Honors Choir. Dickey served in Vietnam during 1967. On March 26, a
radio operator was wounded and Dickey was sent to replace him. While a
medic worked on the wounded man, an enemy grenade landed in the bunker.
Dickey threw himself on the grenade, saving the lives of several others
while losing his own life. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his
act.
A new, improved exhibit honoring Dickey will be unveiled at the
program. Medal of Honor recipient Major General James E. Livingston,
USMC (Retired), will be the main speaker. Livingston is one of 77
living Medal of Honor recipients. Dave Manges, a former museum intern
from Wright State University and retired Army Ranger officer, has put
together this exhibit. Since his internship ended, Manges has served in
the capacity of military collections consultant for Garst Museum. He
will introduce the speakers for the program, which was planned to be as
close to Veterans’ Day as possible.
Also speaking will be Lt. Col. Tom C. McKenney (Retired), who heard
Dickey’s story in 1968 from a man who was present when Dickey threw
himself on a grenade in Vietnam. McKenney did not recall the Soldier’s
name. While visiting in Greenville in 2009, Bob Sharp took him to the
museum to see the exhibit on Dickey. McKenney realized Dickey must be
the Marine he had heard about many years ago. He located Major Ed Boyd,
who had told him the story of the valiant young Marine, and Boyd
confirmed that he had been speaking of Doug Dickey. McKenney was
instrumental in obtaining the for-display-only medal in the exhibit for
the Garst Museum. The Department of Defense rarely provides Medal of
Honor presentation medals for museum exhibits.
The Dayton Marine Reserve Unit will provide the Color Guard for the
ceremony. The same Dayton Marine Reserve Unit performed at Dickey’s
memorial service and at the 30th reunion of his Vietnam platoon.
The program will begin at 4:00 pm on Friday afternoon in the Lowell
Thomas Meeting Room. Those who attend will have a chance to hear the
speakers and view the new exhibit. The local chapter of the Daughters
of the American Revolution will provide refreshments. Seating will be
limited to 150 and provisions are being made for a small additional
standing room only area that may have restricted visibility of the
ceremonies. No reservations can be taken. The museum will still close
for tours at 4:00 pm so those wishing to attend the event will need to
enter the Lowell Thomas Meeting Room via the double glass doors from
the parking lot (the museum’s handicap entrance).
The Darke County Historical Society (the Garst Museum) has as its
mission to collect, preserve, exhibit, study, and interpret materials
relating to the history and culture of Darke County, Ohio as part of
the development of the crossroads of the American experience. Permanent
exhibitions of national significance include the National Annie Oakley
Center, the Treaty of Greenville, Lowell Thomas, and Ohio Native
Americans.
The Garst Museum is located at:
205 N. Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5250
Website: www.garstmuseum.org
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