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(Editor’s note: Martin C. Dooley, a World War II veteran, was the brother of Keith Dooley. His military service is remembered by his son, Michael T. Dooley, a U.S. Army veteran.)
Martin Dooley served in World War II from 1942 to 1945. He never talked much about the war in general, only bits and pieces of his time in the Army.
He relayed to me that he entered the Army at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, where he went to basic training and was later assigned to a field artillery brigade as a truck driver. He also told me later that he was shipped out to the Philippines, where he saw combat action against the Japanese.
He also shared with me that he had received orders while in the Philippines that his unit would be participating in the invasion of the mainland of Japan. His orders stated they would be going to Northern Honshu Japan as part of the invasion force. Obviously, that invasion never happened as the war ended with the dropping of the two atomic bombs.
My dad was also stationed in Hawaii with the 9th Army Corps HQ. This group held a reunion every year in Gainesville until the mid-70s. My dad loved doing this every summer and had many fond memories from these events.
He was one of four brothers who served in WWII. His brothers were Keith, Calvin and John. Their mother, Ida K. Dooley, was given a four-star flag from the President to display at her home and was designated a four-star mother as she had four sons serving in the war at the same time.
He did not talk much about his brothers’ tenure in WWII, only the fact that his little brother John saw the worst action as he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and participated in the invasion of Italy.
My dad was very proud of his service in the Army and his participation in WWII. He was very active in the American Legion and supported a lot of WWII veterans groups.
Martin Dooley passed away in 1995 and was buried with full military honors.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael T. Dooley (retired) – Military service: 1979-2002
Dooley was commissioned a second lieutenant from North Georgia College and was branched into the infantry. He served more than 23 years of active duty and had many assignments with command and staff positions at all levels from Company to Division Level Staff. Dooley also had numerous professional development assignments, including Small Group Instructor, Aide-de-Camp the Commanding General of Fort Benning; Army Ranger School Instructor; Assistant Commandant of Cadets at North Georgia College; Maneuver and C2 O/C for Battle Command and Training Program. He also participated in an operational deployment (Operation Vigilant Warrior) in Kuwait. He culminated his Army career as the Deputy Director of the Fire Support Department within the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Since his retirement in 2002, he has been a civil servant assigned to Fort Sill.
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