Jesse Farley Dyer

Leading his company, he battled through streets at Veracruz.

Jesse Farley Dyer was born at St Paul, Minnesota, on 2 December 1877. He served in the 13th Minnesota Infantry during the Spanish-American War before receiving a Marine Corps commission in 1903. Early assignments took him to Annapolis, the Philippines, sea duty, Cuba and Panama.

He also worked in the Navy's Judge Advocate General's office and became a captain in 1911. In April 1914 he commanded a company of Marines in the landing force sent ashore at Veracruz during the crisis between the United States and Mexico.

On 21 and 22 April, Dyer fought at the head of his company as the force occupied the port. His Medal of Honor citation recognised conspicuous conduct and the skill and courage with which he led his men during both days of fighting. The award acknowledged command exercised personally amid the fighting rather than from a position removed from his company.

During the First World War Dyer served as aide to the governor of the Virgin Islands. His later career included expeditionary duty in Haiti and China, professional study at the Army and Naval War Colleges, and service as fleet Marine officer with the Asiatic Fleet. He and his wife Nellie raised a family during these successive postings.

He returned to Parris Island for officer training and recruiting responsibilities before retiring as a colonel in 1937. In 1942 he was advanced to brigadier general on the retired list under legislation recognising officers specially commended in combat.

Dyer spent his retirement in California. He died at the Naval Hospital at Corona on 31 March 1955 and was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery near San Diego.