FORT GORDON, Ga. (Oct. 16, 2015) - In the early morning rain Saturday, Boy Scouts continued to camp out on Barton Field as they waited for the sun to shine before continuing any daily events, which some were rescheduled for the afternoon.
More than 1,000 Boy Scouts of America with the Georgia Carolina Council attended the 3rd Annual Jimmie Dyess Days, three-day Camp-O-Ree, held on Fort Gordon. More than 500 scouts camped out overnight at Barton Field. The event provided Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers of the Central Savannah River Area to camp out on an active military installation while also recognizing an American hero and local native to Augusta, Georgia.
"I didn't know who Jimmie Dyess was, or that he was a Marine and Eagle Scout," said Staff Sgt. Nestor Rivas, who is assigned to the Cyber Protection Brigade.
Rivas arrived at Fort Gordon in April 2014 from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His two sons, Nestor Rivas Jr., 5, and Jorel Rivas, 8, joined him in June after their completion of the school year. After his permanent change of duty stations, Rivas looked to engage his children in any local activities such as basketball, and camping.
The Jimmie Dyess Days hosts various activities for the wide range of ages within the Boy Scouts. Younger scouts participated in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math activities. There were military displays and demonstrations for scouts to interact with, and local vendors supporting the event offering discounts on camping gear and tents. Off-site events included, marksmanship shooting at Range 14, water survival training with the U.S. Navy at the indoor pool, and a rappelling tower at the Youth Challenge Academy on post.
The scheduled concert was canceled due to more impeding weather. Church services were still held Sunday morning led by the installation chaplain's office.
"After the rain, we were in full swing after swapping around and rescheduling a few of the events," said James R. Mosher, chairman for the Jimmie Dyess Days 2015. "This weekend lets us recognize Carnegie Medal recipient Jimmie Dyess who was also an Eagle Scout."
Aquilla James Dyess was an active Boy Scout member with Troop 4 charters by the First Baptist Church of Augusta. As an Eagle Scout he represented Augusta area in 1926 at Washington D.C. during a national council of Boy Scouts event.
On July 13, 1928, while on vacation with his family at a Charleston beach area, Dyess was confronted with two young women who were swept out to sea 200 yards, and after several attempts by others to rescue them, Dyess swam into the ocean to save them and then assist in their resuscitation. A year later, he was recognized with the Carnegie Medal for Civilian Heroism.
Later in life, he graduated with a science degree from Clemson College, South Carolina, while serving as a ROTC cadet, later commissioned as a second lieutenant with the Infantry. He then served with the Marine Corps, which he deployed with the 4th Marine Division as a lieutenant colonel to the Pacific Theater during World War II.
As the senior officer in charge, he completed multiple combat engagements under heavy fire fights against the Japanese on the beaches of Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands. Dyess continued to fight forward on the front line, learning about several trapped Marines behind enemy lines, he gathered a rescue party to reach them as he provided suppressive fire. In several days to follow, Dyess walked along the front lines, exposed to enemy fire, directing his Marines' fire support toward the enemy. On Feb. 2, 1944, he was shot in the head, killed instantly, while making observations of enemy firing positions.
On July 18, 1944, the White House announced that Marine Lt. Col. A.J. Dyess has posthumously earned the Medal of Honor. He is one of only six known Eagle Scouts who has received the Medal of Honor. Other recipients are Robert Edward Femoyer (WW2), Eugene B. Fluckey (WW2), Mitchell Paige (WW2), Leo K. Thorsness (Vietnam) and Jay Zeamer, Jr. (WW2). Dyess is the only American who received both the Carnegie Medal and the Medal of Honor.
Awards and recognitions were handled out to serval troops and individual scouts. The Best Campsite and also the Best Display of Scout Spirit was Troop 686 from Evans and for Best Representation of Jimmie Dyess Display was Troop 326th from South Carolina.
"The Jimmie Dyess Days is an event we continue to look forward to with the support of local organization and the military post who hosts us each year," said Mosher.
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