Edwin Lee Dean; still leading the way
I posted this news on Facebook the other day, but ROS sent a link to Edwin Lee Dean’s obituary and I think we should mark the passing of one of the original Darby’s Rangers;
Ranger Dean was a part of the First Ranger Battalion that landed in North Africa in November, 1942. He saw action in several key battles and beach landings, being awarded a Silver Star for his heroism during the Sened Station Raid—one of the first such citations ever awarded to an Army Ranger. While in North Africa, he was among the Rangers chosen to serve as a part of General George Patton’s contingent of bodyguards and served in the honor guard for Patton’s slain Chief of Staff. During July and August of 1943, Ranger Dean and his unit spearheaded the invasion of Sicily…
Colonel Darby personally chose First Sergeant Dean to receive a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant. He was then assigned to the newly formed Fourth Ranger Battalion as company commander. It was also during this period of time that Second Lieutenant Dean received severe shrapnel wounds in his legs and a broken bone in his foot and was taken to a field hospital for treatment. Upon learning that his unit was moving out for a beach landing at Anzio, Second Lieutenant Dean left the hospital without being released by his doctors and rejoined his unit.
Ranger Dean was reactivated during the Korean War in 1950. He volunteered for Airborne training and earned his parachutist badge in April, 1951 with the 82nd Airborne. He completed 19 jumps before illness led to his discharge from the service.
The obit goes on to tell how Ranger Dean became Farmer Dean and also had a 22-year career at a local health center.
In recognition of his courage, sacrifice, and devotion to this country and fellowman, in 2009 Ranger Dean was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia.
And now he’s leading the way into eternity.
Category: Blue Skies, Real Soldiers
Real soldier. Doesn’t need fake awards and badges. RIP Sir.
He has the look that says, “I would give you my last nickel if you needed it but I would tear your ever-lovin’ throat out if you were to try to forcibly take it from me.”
Godspeed Ranger.
Now that calls for some Hoo-Ah!!! A Ranger is leading the way!! Rest in Peace, and Thank you.
rest in peace
I like this poem so much, I thought it might be appropriate to repost it here for Ranger Dean.
A War Song to Englishmen
Prepare, prepare the iron helm of war,
Bring forth the lots, cast in the spacious orb;
Th’ Angel of Fate turns them with mighty hands,
And casts them out upon the darken’d earth!
Prepare, prepare!
Prepare your hearts for Death’s cold hand! prepare
Your souls for flight, your bodies for the earth;
Prepare your arms for glorious victory;
Prepare your eyes to meet a holy God!
Prepare, prepare!
Whose fatal scroll is that? Methinks ’tis mine!
Why sinks my heart, why faltereth my tongue?
Had I three lives, I’d die in such a cause,
And rise, with ghosts, over the well-fought field.
Prepare, prepare!
The arrows of Almighty God are drawn!
Angels of Death stand in the louring heavens!
Thousands of souls must seek the realms of light,
And walk together on the clouds of heaven!
Prepare, prepare!
Soldiers, prepare! Our cause is Heaven’s cause;
Soldiers, prepare! Be worthy of our cause:
Prepare to meet our fathers in the sky:
Prepare, O troops, that are to fall to-day!
Prepare, prepare!
Alfred shall smile, and make his harp rejoice;
The Norman William, and the learnèd Clerk,
And Lion Heart, and black-brow’d Edward, with
His loyal queen, shall rise, and welcome us!
Prepare, prepare!
– William Blake
Salute!
Ranger that.
RIP.
RTLW
Oorah Sir!
Rest in Peace, Ranger.
RLTW.
Oh shit!
Do not be angry. Too many beers.
My apologies.
I will proof read in the future.
As I’ve posited elsewhere,
This man planted the flag atop Mt Badass.
That such men still walk among us (but fading rapidly) humbly, and without fanfare, speaks to their character.
We have had many, but so very few have known of them…
His citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Edwin L. Dean (ASN: 37006282), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 1st Ranger Battalion, on the early morning of 12 February 1943, in the vicinity 5 miles west of Sened Station, Tunisia. Private First Class Dean, acting as a scout for his squad, *with fixed bayonet,* charged a machine gun nest in the face of intense machine gun and rifle fire and captured and destroyed the personnel and equipment of the enemy position, which allowed the movement of the other members of his platoon to advance without loss to a point where they successfully continued the assault. Private First Class Dean’s courage and devotion to duty is highly commendable and reflects great credit upon the command.
General Orders: Headquarters, II Corps, General Orders No. 14 (March 7, 1943)
Action Date: February 12, 1943
Service: Army
Rank: Private First Class
Company: Company E
Battalion: 5th Ranger Battalion
I would have considered myself lucky to have even shaken this man’s hand. Lead us forward sir and may you rest in peace.
RIP, Ranger.
Rest In Peace Sir, You well deserve it!
BRAVO ZULU RANGER!
HAND SALUTE … READY TO!
This was my cousin, and a very humble man. A true citizen soldier.
His boyhood friend and uncle (both were the same age) Dale Dean (my fathers kid brother) jumped with the 101st AB the night before “D” Day and was KIA before he hit the ground.