Howard “Doc” Dibble

ASN:O-472335

Howard Carr Dibble registered for military service on October 16, 1940.

Born July 17, 1917 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania he was described as 5'-10", 185 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair with a light complexion.

This twenty-three-year-old was enrolled as a medical student at the University of Chicago Medical School in Chicago, Illinois at the time of his registration and enlisted in the US Army three years later on August 12, 1943.

He was a graduate of Yale University and the Chicago University Medical School where upon the completion of his internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, July 1, 1943, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. 

1st LT Dibble spent six weeks in intensive training at the Carlisle Medical Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from in September 1943. From there he was assigned to Camp Forrest, Tennessee.

Camp Forrest, at Tullahoma, was one of the largest U.S. Army training bases during World War II. The camp served as a training facility for eleven infantry divisions, two battalions of Rangers, numerous medical and supply units, and a number of Army Air Corps personnel.

1st LT Dibble shipped out to the European Theatre of Operations aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth, arriving at the 10th Replacement Depot in England, December 18, 1943. He was assigned to the 307th Airborne Medical Company on January 10, 1944, then stationed at Castledawson, Northern Ireland. In less than a week he was transferred for 21 days to detached service at Shrivenhamberks, England, returning to duty at Castledawson on February 7, 1944.

On the evening of February 13, 1944, the 307th Airborne Medical Company shipped out from Castledawson arriving at their new base echelon in Leicester, England, several days later.

1st LT Dibble was then assigned as a battalion surgeon and attached to the HQ Artillery Division of the 82nd Airborne Division. (see morning reports below) Later he was attached to the 319th Glider Field Artillery Group of the 82nd Airborne Division, just prior to the D-Day Normandy invasion.

During the Normandy campaign he was also attached to the 508th Parachute Infantry

Company Morning Reports

Company Morning Reports (CMR) were produced every morning by the individual Army units to record personnel matters. The following events for Howard Dibble were reported:

• January 14, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, assigned to HQ 82nd Airborne Division, effective January 10, 1944. Station: Castledawson, Northern Ireland.

• January 16, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, from duty to detached service at Shrivenhambers, England, duration 21 days. Station: Castledawson, Northern Ireland.

• February 7, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, from detached service at Shrivenhamberks, England, duration 21 days, to duty. Station; Castledawson, Northern Ireland.

• April 18, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, (attached to the 319th Field Artillery Battalion for rations only) relieved from attachment.

• June 25, 1944, 1st LT Howard Dibble, attached to HQ Company, 3rd BN 508th Parachute Infantry as of June 11, 1944.

• July 17, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, relieved from attachment with 508th Parachute Infantry to 307th Medical Company, July 13, 1944.

• July 23, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble MC, from duty to detached service with HQ, 82nd Airborne Division at Oakham, England, duration unknown as of July 20, 1944. Station: Leicester, WF 0123, England.

• July 25, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble MC, from detached service with HQ 82nd Airborne Division at Oakham, England, to leave at Bristol, England, duration 5 days.

• July 27, 1944, 1st LT Dibble, Howard D. (MC) 0-472335, attached and joined 82nd Airborne Headquarters Division from the 307th Airborne Medical Company as of 20 July, 1944. Station: Leicester NF 0123 England.

• July 30, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, from leave at Bristol, England, duration 5 days to duty.

• August 17, 1944, 1st LT Howard C. Dibble, 0-472335, assigned and joined the Medical Detachment, 319th Glider Field Artillery from the 307th Airborne Medical Company 0800, principle duty 3100. (Medical Officer) Station: Papillon Hall, 4 miles west of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England. (WF1406)

• September 12, 1944, 1st Lt Howard C. Dibble, 0-472335, promoted to Captain the 1st, principle duty 3100. Station: Papillon Hall, 4 miles west Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England. WF1406

• July 11, 1945, Capt Howard C Dibble 0472335 MOS 3100 (Medical Officer, General) Duty to leave 7 days Great Britain the 9th.

• July 30, 1945, Capt Howard C Dibble 0-472335, MOS 3100 (Medical Officer, General) Leave 7 days Great Britain to duty.

• November 29, 1945, Capt Howard C Dibble 0472335 MOS 3150 relieved from assignment and and assigned to Hq 26th Inf Div APO 26 EDCMR ,29 Nov 45 Par 32 SO 254 Hq 82D Airborne Division. Station: Berlin Germany 8.1.N.5 Nord DeGuerre.

• November 30, 1945, Capt Howard C Dibble 0472335 MOS 3150, attached unasigned per Verbal order of Adj Gen 30 Nov 45. Station: Berlin Germany 8.1.N.5 Nord DeGuerre.

• December 3, 1945, Capt Howard C Dibble (DC/0472335) attached unassigned to relieved from attached unassigned and assigned PP 23 SO 300 Hq 26th Inf Div. Station:  Sissone France 23.0-11.0 Nord DeGuerre.

1st LT Dibble glided into Normandy the evening of D-Day, June 6, 1944, with the Medical Detachment of the 319th Glider Field Artillery, 82nd airborne Division. He also served as a battalion surgeon during the Holland, Ardennes and Central Europe campaigns.

Many stories were told of the medical corp and 1st LT Dibble was a part of their heroism. Along with unarmed air-men, stretcher bearers and other doctors who faced enemy guns in order to get their wounded back to safety or hospital wards. 

Only three hours after landing in Normandy a clearing station had been set up in Ste. Mere Eglise, so the evacuation of the wounded could be carried out by sea.

On June 9, 1944, the 508th Parachute Infantry, 319th Glider Field Artillery and other allied regiments attacked Hill 30, a piece of high ground near the confluence of the Merderet and Douve Rivers. 1st Lieutenant Howard Dibble went with the first patrols to establish contact with Hill 30 and later was awarded the Bronze Star (see below) for his heroic conduct.

“0-472335 Captain, then 1st Lt. Howard C. Dibble, for heroic conduct in Normandy France on 10 June, 1944, following the initial contact made by divisional patrolling elements with troops who had been isolated for five days, Captain Dibble moved forward along roads harassed by sniper and enemy mortar fire to render immediate medical aid to 34 casualties who had little in the way of such care since being wounded. This heroic action definitely contributed to the substantial well being of these men. Entered military service from Wisconsin.”

On November 6, 1944, A-Battery SGT Robert McArthur was severely wounded in a mortar attack. (see photo inset) McArthur’s right hand was ripped half off his forearm, his left arm was torn wide open above the elbow, with fragments of splintered bone visible, and he had another serious gash across his forehead. Captain Sartain of A-Battery latter recalled: “The aide people arrived with the jeep and a stretcher and we got him out. I guess it was within five minutes and they were still trying to stop the bleeding. Captain Dibble was instrumental in stabilizing McArthur’s condition.” SGT McArthur survived the war.

On May 7, 1945, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies in Reims, France, ending World War II.

The 319th Glider Field Artillery and 82nd Airborne Headquarters Division would soon be stationed at the “Ramp Camp” (Recovered American Military Personnel) in Epinal, France. There, on June 20, 1945, group photos of the various 82nd Airborne units were taken.

Below, CAPT Dibble poses with officers of the 319th and Headquarters Division.

The US Army used the Adjusted Service Rating Score (ASR) at the end of the war to determine when soldiers were eligible for discharge. By August 1945, CAPT Dibble was now stationed in Berlin, Germany, for occupational duty with other enlisted men and officers having an ASR score of less than 85.

In late December 1945, with an ASR score of 71 points, Captain Dibble returned to the USA aboard the Queen Mary arriving in New York Harbor on January 3, 1946. He was discharged from the service on March 20, 1946, and returned to civilian life.

For his service Captain Dibble was awarded the Combat Medic Badge, Bronze Star for meritorious service in Normandy, 4 Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal, the Belgian Fourragere, Presidential Unit Citation Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster, Victory Ribbon and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon. 

In the post-war years Howard Dibble completed residency training at the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, Maywood, Illinois. He later served as a surgeon at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Marion, Illinois, staff surgeon with both the Marion Memorial Hospital and Southern Illinois University Health Services in Carbondale, Illinois.

Dr. Howard C. Dibble, 64, died March 7, 1982.

God Bless this hero.

See additional photos below

below slideshow with side controls to the next or previous image

See letter below regarding Capt. Doherty

Epinal, France August __, 1945

Dear Mrs. Doherty:

I haven't written you earlier because there's been limited time to inform you about John, and Evelyn likely shared much of the information. However, Evelyn believes it's a good idea for me to communicate what I know, so I'll outline the story as we understand it. I'm confident that none of the officers possess more information than I do, and considering the new Commanding Officer and Chaplain, they're probably even less informed. Enclosed are the names of the men who were with John and their home addresses, as well as Col. Todd's current address, should you wish to contact them.

During our entry into Holland, both John and I were in gliders, each carrying a jeep. We divided the medical supplies into two equal portions, ensuring that either of us would have sufficient resources to work with in case of separation.

The gliders were towed in four columns side by side. My glider was in the 3rd column, the 2nd from the right, and John's glider was in the 1st column on the left side of the formation. Upon landing, the gliders split into two columns, two abreast. Columns 3 and 4 landed without any issues, either on or near the designated landing zone. However, the first two columns were towed on for a longer duration before being released. Consequently, the gliders in these columns landed separately, some in Germany and ours in Holland, as intended.

What transpired thereafter remains unknown. Capt. Connelly, our S-4, left two wounded men behind and successfully returned the rest of the group to our side of the border using his glider. They abandoned the glider upon landing and concealed themselves in ditches to evade the German troops who had arrived at the field. Major Silvey's group also made it back without injuries and without encountering any nearby German forces upon landing. Neither of them could provide details about the fate of other gliders due to the scattered landings and their own immediate concerns.

Most of the men from various groups were taken as prisoners, and we've interacted with or heard from men from each group except those in John's glider. The only other information we have about John's glider comes from a report mentioning that Sergeant Siegel was discovered quite some time later by Canadian troops. He was found seated in the jeep within the glider. Given that the medical supplies were stored in the jeep and its placement as the glider's cargo, we're certain this was John's glider. Unfortunately, no traces of the pilot, jeep driver, or John were found, presumably suggesting they had either escaped the glider or were taken away.

Due to the area where John's glider landed not being cleared of Germans until Canadians advanced just before the Rhine crossing, an inspection wasn't feasible until much later.

A recent letter, which we found dubious, claimed that a man spoke with Mrs. Doherty, the Captain's mother, and shared a story that seemed exaggerated. The man suggested that the glider carried only personnel and included members of both the 101st Airborne and the 82nd. Additionally, he claimed they departed from Southampton. However, we departed from Market Harborough near Lubenham and proceeded to Cottesmore airport. It's evident this man hadn't seen John.

Although all prisoners have since been liberated, we remain convinced that no one from John's glider could have survived. I recognize that the evidence is insufficient, and it's challenging to relinquish hope without concrete proof. Nonetheless, I see no way of becoming more certain.

Despite John's short tenure with the battalion, he was greatly liked and admired by all officers and men. My connection with him was particularly strong since we joined the unit simultaneously and collaborated closely. I appreciated his strong moral principles, a rare trait in the army, along with his pleasant and entertaining demeanor. The loss was deeply felt even after a brief acquaintance, and I can somewhat understand the extent of your own loss.

I promise to keep you informed if I learn more details. Should you have any further queries now, I'm willing to do my best to address them.

Sincerely, Howard Dibble

Names: Lt. Col. James C. Todd, 681 Glider F. A. Battalion, APO 425 N.Y.C. Mrs. Nora Lane (Mother of Raymond Lane) 635 South 2nd St. Hardinsburg, Ky. Mr. Joseph Siegel (Father of William Siegel) 680 Fort Washington Ave N.Y.C. The only other occupant of the glider was the pilot, whose name I do not have.

Copy of letter received from Capt. Howard C. Dibble 0-472335 Med Det 319th Gl. F.A. Bn. APO #469 New York, N.Y.