Aquilla J. Dyess

Aquilla James Dyess
Aquilla J. Dyess, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
Born	(1909-01-11)January 11, 1909 Andersonville, Georgia
Died	February 2, 1944(1944-02-02) (aged 35) KIA at Kwajalein Atoll
Place of burial	4th Marine Division Cemetery on Roi-Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1931–1936 (U.S. Army Reserve) 1936–1944 (USMCR)
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	1st Battalion 24th Marines
Battles/wars	World War II *Battle of Kwajalein
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart Carnegie Medal Eagle Scout
Other work	general contractor

Lieutenant Colonel Aquilla James "Jimmie" Dyess (January 11, 1909 – February 2, 1944) was a United States Marine Corps officer who was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" at the head of his troops during World War II, in the Battle of Kwajalein, on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands on February 2, 1944.

Aquilla James Dyess was born on January 11, 1909 in Andersonville, Georgia. He was a distant cousin of fellow World War II veteran William Dyess. As a youth, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, highest in the Boy Scouts. Dyess is one of only nine known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor. He is also the only American to receive both the Carnegie Medal for civilian heroism and the Medal of Honor. In 1929, he was awarded the Carnegie Medal for saving two swimmers off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina in 1928.

Dyess graduated from Clemson College, Clemson, South Carolina, in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture. At Clemson, he served as a cadet major in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Army Infantry Reserve in 1931.

In civilian life, he was a general contractor. He also served as assistant director of a summer camp for boys.