Background
Dawley was born on February 17, 1886 in Antigo, Wisconsin.
Dawley was born on February 17, 1886 in Antigo, Wisconsin.
After a year at Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin, he entered the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York on 15 June 1906 as a member of the Class of 1910. He was graduated as a second lieutenant, 2d Field Artillery, on 15 June 1910.
As a junior officer of field artillery Mike served in this country and in the Philippine Islands. He joined the Punitive Expedition into Mexico with General Pershing in 1916. At the outbreak of World War I on 7 April 1917, Mike was with the 7th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Promoted to captain in May he went overseas to France with the 7th Field Artillery in August 1917. After a short course in l’Ecole d'Artillerie at Fontainebleau, Mike was appointed Secretary and Executive Officer of the Saumur Artillery School on 20 September 1917. Promoted to major in February 1918, he remained at the school until 7 May 1918. He then joined the artillery section, 1st Army Corps, to 30 June 1918 and served with the 12th Field Artillery (2d Division) to 28 July 1918.
Then to the General Staff, First Army until 3 November 1918. During this time he became a lieutenant colonel. He was Assistant Chief of Staff, 2d Army Artillery, until 20 November 1918 and served with the 16th Field Artillery (4th Division) until 1 December 1918. Mike then joined the 3d section General Staff at General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces with permanent appointment to the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces.
On 20 March 1919 he was moved to Paris, France, with the American Mission to negotiate peace and on a field mission for the same group to Baltic States and Russian northwestern government. Mike was relieved on 26 September 1919 and returned to the United States for duty in the Tactical Department, United States Military Academy with General Robert Danford who was then the Commandant of Cadets. He remained at West Point until 1924.
Later he served a tour of duty in the Office of the Chief of Field Artillery in Washington, 1927-30. As a senior officer of field artillery, Mike continued to receive assignments of increasing importance and responsibility.
As World War II approached, he was promoted to brigadier general on 1 October 1940 and assigned as the Field Artillery Commander of the Seventh Division being activated by General Joseph Stilwell. In June 1941 he was promoted to major general and assigned to command the 40th Division at San Luis Obispo, California. In April of 1942 he was made Commanding General of the VI Corps in Providence, Rhode Island, and departed for his first foreign service during World War II in the North African Theater of Operations.
Later after commanding the Tank Destroyer Center at Camp Hood, Texas, Mike joined General Ben Lear in France as the Commanding General of the Ground Forces Reinforcement Command, European Theater of Operations. For his services during World War I, Mike was awarded the Silver Star and for his World War II services, the Distinguished Service Medal, Commendation Ribbon and two Purple Hearts He was also decorated by France with the Legion of Honor, the Etoile Noir, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm; by Great Britain with the C.B.E.and by Morocco with the O.A.
In the spring of 1946 Mike was relieved of his duties in Paris and ordered to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as Commanding General of the Replacement Training Command. In September of 1947, he was retired for physical disability after more than 41 years of active service.
He acquired he nickname “Mike”. Mike Dawley was a man of sterling character with a great many good friends and true. He was devoted to has family, all of whom he loved dearly.
Surviving are his wife, Genevieve; his two daughters, Mrs. Peter Alderwick (Harriet) of Pittsfield, Massachusetts and her four daughters; and Mrs. Alexander Shaw (Gail) of Wellesley, Massachusetts and her three sons and one daughter.
