James Dalton II
| James Leo Dalton II | |
|---|---|
James Dalton (left) with Douglas MacArthur, most likely on Luzon in 1945
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| Nickname(s) | Dusty |
| Born |
January 20, 1910 New Britain, Connecticut |
| Died | May 16, 1945 (aged 35) Luzon, Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1933–1945 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 161st Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
James Leo Dalton II (January 20, 1910 – May 16, 1945) was a general and commander of United States Army forces during World War II. He graduated from West Point in 1933 and earned the Silver Star during the strategically significant Guadalcanal Campaign in which he commanded the 161st Infantry Regiment as a Colonel.
Dalton later commanded the 161st during the New Georgia Campaign in 1943 and Battle of Luzon in 1945 before being promoted and reassigned as assistant commander of the 25th Infantry Division. He was killed by a Japanese sniper during the Battle of Balete Pass on May 16, 1945.
Dalton was born in New Britain, Connecticut but moved to Naugatuck with his family at a very young age. There he attended Saint Francis of Assisi School, and in 1927 he graduated from Naugatuck High School. In 1929 he entered West Point, graduating in 1933, when he transferred from cavalry to infantry.
Dalton was posted at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack in 1941 and in January 1943 his regiment, the 161st Rifle (Infantry) Regiment, was sent to Guadalcanal, as part of the Americal Division's deployment to the island. The 161st took part in the final weeks of the campaign. For his duties during this campaign, Dalton was awarded the Silver Star and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, then colonel.
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