Rex L. Dye
Distinguished Member of the Regiment
Rex Dye photo likely taken in Italy around December 1943
NAME: Rex L. Dye
ASN: 36124625
PLACE OF BIRTH: ????, MI
DATE OF BIRTH: 16 Apr 1923
DATES OF SERVICE: 21 Aug 1941 - 25 Jun 1944
UNIT ASSIGNED:
E Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR
B CO 509th PIR
Replacement Plt. G Co (Prov) 2nd Bn 509th PIR
CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno
AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with combat Jump Star, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and two campaign stars, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
16 Apr 1923 - Born in Oakland, MI to Rex J Dye and Alice M. Dye
?? ??? 1925 - Brother Hugh F. Dye was born
?? ??? 1926 - Brother Douglas E. Dye was born
1940 Census - Living at home with parents and brothers at 2217 Novi Road, Oakland, MI
21 Aug 1941 - Enlisted at Fort Custer, MI - NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 36124625 | 36124625 |
| NAME | DYE#REX#L############### | DYE#REX#L############### |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | #2 | Undefined Code |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 163 | Undefined Code |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 6220 | FT CUSTER MICHIGAN |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 21 | 21 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 08 | 08 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 41 | 41 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | PV0# | Undefined Code |
| GRADE: CODE | 8 | Private |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | BI# | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| BRANCH: CODE | 00 | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 0 | Undefined Code |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | - | Selective Service within 3 months of Discharge |
| NATIVITY | 62 | MICHIGAN |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 23 | 23 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 3 | 3 years of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 781 | Semiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 1 | Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men) |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 1036 | 1036 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 5.98# | 5.98# |
Volunteers to join the paratroops
Attends the Parachute School at Fort Benning, GA
Assigned to E Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR as a replacement in North Africa
14 Sep 1943 - Pfc. Rex L. Dye 36124625 E CO 2nd Bn 509th PIR, participates in Operation GIANT III the airborne invasion of Avellino, Italy. Lands with unit 20 miles behind enemy lines and spends several weeks fighting and evading Germans until friendly lines advanced to their position. The purpose of the operation was to support Operation AVALANCHE the 5th Army invasion of Salerno which was threatened with being pushed back into the sea. The Germans had an infantry regiment in reserve that would have to pass through Avellino to get to the beaches and reinforce the German assault. The 509th drop was a delaying action which caused the Germans to divert the infantry regiment in reserve to anti-parachute operations. The Germans mistakenly believed an entire Airborne Regiment or Division had landed in the area due to the scattered drop. This gave time for the 5th Army to reinforce the Salerno beachhead with the 82nd Airborne Division and ultimately stop the German assault.
30 Sep 1943 - The first paratroopers from the Avellino drop begin to make it through to friendly lines
00 Nov 1943 - 509th PIB goes on the line at Venafro, Italy
00 Dec 1943 - 509th PIB comes off the line at Venafro, Itay
09 Jan 1944 - Boarded the ship Winchester Castle as part of the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy. 509th PIB was attached to 6615th Ranger Force
11 Jan 1944 - Pfc. Rex L. Dye 36124625 B CO 509th PIB, SO 4 - Assigned to Replacement Plt. G Co (Prov) 2nd Bn 509th PIR to help train new replacements
22 Jan 1944 - Pfc. Rex L. Dye 36124625 participates in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy, lands at Beach XRAY/YELLOW
27 Jan 1944 - 509th PIB ordered to hold road junction in vicinity of Padiglione, Italy
29 Feb 1944 - Pfc. Rex Dye is with the 509th PIB when the unit takes positions at Carano Italy and is present during the action in which the 509th earned the Presidential Unit Citation for Carano
25 Jun 1944 - Seperated from service
18 Jul 1948 - Pfc. Rex L. Dye listed on 509th Reunion Roll List B
