Joseph W. Dailey

Joseph W. Dailey (February 17, 1917 – July 5, 2007) was a United States Marine who served as the 5th sergeant major of the Marine Corps from August 1, 1969, until he retired from active duty on January 31, 1973. Dailey was the oldest living former sergeant major of the Marine Corps when he died in 2007. Dailey served in combat in three wars—World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War—earning the Silver Star for actions during the Battle of Okinawa and the Navy Cross and the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in Korea. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Born February 17, 1917, in Black Mountain, Arkansas, Dailey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1941 at Portland, Oregon, and underwent recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California.

During World War II, Dailey served with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, and participated in combat operations in Eastern New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Caroline Islands and on Okinawa. He was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as acting gunnery sergeant of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines on Okinawa on May 3, 1945.

Upon his return to the United States, Dailey was discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve on November 23, 1945. On June 18, 1948, he re-enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, and was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. He remained inactive until October 1950, when ordered to active duty at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton in California, where he served as a company first sergeant with the 4th Infantry Training Battalion. He was promoted to technical sergeant in August 1951.

In October 1952, Dailey joined the 1st Marine Division in Korea, where he earned the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as platoon leader with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division on February 25, 1953; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart for wounds received on March 26, 1953, while serving as company gunnery sergeant with Company F. Dailey integrated into the Regular Marine Corps in 1953 and was promoted to master sergeant in August 1953.

Following his return to the United States in December 1953, Dailey was again assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, and served, successively, as company first sergeant and company gunnery sergeant with Communications-Electronics Schools Battalion. From July 1955 until November 1956, he served as the first sergeant with the Marine Detachment, USS Bremerton. He next became battalion sergeant major of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, through June 1959. He was promoted to first sergeant on December 30, 1955, and to sergeant major on December 31, 1955.

Dailey reported to Houston, Texas, where he was assigned duty as sergeant major on the Inspector-Instructor Staff, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division serving in that capacity until July 1962. Ordered to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he saw duty as regimental sergeant major with the 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division. He deployed with the 2nd Marines during the Cuban contingency operations.

In August 1963, Dailey reported to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., for duty as G-3 Division sergeant major until May 1964. For the next two years, he served as post sergeant major at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.