Daniel "Gunner" Morgan Dyer Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Daniel Morgan Dyer was born on March 29, 1930 in the “City of Brotherly Love”, Philadelphia, PA. Dan is one of six children born to Samuel and Hilda Dyer. He hails from a long line of warriors. His father, Samuel Dyer, served in the US Navy in World War I. All five of his siblings also served in uniform. His brother, Samuel Jr., served as a Merchant Marine. Another brother, Joseph served in the Marine Corps. His sisters, Elaine Dyer Beckmann and Irene Dyer Olsen, were both US Navy Nurses in World War II. His third sister, Alice Dyer is a retired US Navy Commander, who served a nurse in Vietnam. Dan attended William Chrisman High School in Independence, MO having graduated in December 1947. Always an advocate of education, Dan earned an Associated Degree in Physical Education and Recreation from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa and both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degree in Recreation Administration from UC Long Beach. He later graduated from Smith Baptist Seminary, Garden Grove, in 1980, earning a PhD in Business Administration. On June 18, 1947, Dan enlisted in the Marine Corps undergoing boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA. After graduation, he attended infantry training school with a MOS of 0300 and was assigned to Sea Duty aboard the USS Valley Forge, CV-45, from 1947-1949. Following duty as a “Sea Going Marine”, Dan was stationed at Naval Aviation Detachment, Hastings, NB then transferred to Camp Pendleton, while at Camp Pendleton, Dan was ordered to Korea, where he was assigned to duty with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Dan participated in several operations in Korea including the Pusan Perimeter Defense, Inchon Reservoir, Pohang Guerilla hunt, Operations Killer and Ripper. On December 6th, 1950 while assigned to operations in the Chosin Reservoir, Pohang Guerilla hunt, Operations Killer and RipperDan was wounded in action. Of interesting note, another of the Semper Fi #1 members, Sgt. Robert Dugan, was wounded on the same day. Both Dan and Bob were not, however in the same unit. After recovering from his wounds, Dan returned to the United States on April 25, 1951. From 1952-1955, Dan served as a Marine Recruiter at Port Huron in Flint, Michigan. In 1955, after a successful tour of duty as a Recruiter, Dan returned to Camp Pendleton and was discharged from the Regular component of the Marine Corps in 1956 he then reenlisted in Marine Corps Reserve. Dan served in several billets while in the Marine Corps Reserve from Anti-Tank Company, Infantry Platoon Leader, Military Police Officer, Admin Chief and Admin Officer. He also served as the Director of Drill and Ceremonies at the John Brown Military Academy in Signal Hill, CA from 1958 to 1960. Dan ultimately retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in July 1988 after 41 years of honorable and faithful service, at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. During his impressive career in the Marine Corps Reserve, Dan also worked for the City of Long Beach and eventually retired as the Parks and Recreation Department Manager after 28 years of service. As if Dan has not had an active enough life, he was ordained a minister in May of 1980. He served as the Director of Operations for the Campus Crusade for Christ at the Christian Conference Center in Arrowhead Springs from which he retired after nine years of service. Dan still participated in weekly Bible studies at Calvary Chapel in Redlands. Dan’s other interests include Golf and ukulele virtuoso. For five years (2004-2009), Dan’s love for motorcycles was only overshadowed by his love for his wife of 61 years, Pat Dyer, his true love. Together they have made the “Run To The Wall” with over 500,000 motorcycles, from California to Washington, DC to remember the over 8,000 POW’/MIA’s still unaccounted for from the Korean War. Dan Also served with the Civil Air Patrol as a Search and Rescue Pilot for 35 years. His flight log has recorded over 1750 hours as a Search and Rescue Pilot and over 450 hours as a Search Observer. Other billets he has served in are, Administrative Officer, Emergency Service Officer, Operations Officer, Deputy Squadron Commander, Squadron Chaplin, Deputy and Group Chaplin, Deputy and Wing Chaplin and Deputy National Chief of Chaplains. Dan additionally served as a staff member at the Civil Air Patrol National Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, for four years, while there, he participated in numerous Cadet Encampments, to include four National Cadet Flight Encampments as their Chaplain. Dan also served as the Chaplain for the National Cadet encampment at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Dan was twice chosen to escorts Cadets to Belgium and Japan for the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE). He retired from the Civil Air Patrol on November 1, 2005. Dan belongs to several professional organizations, which include, Phi Sigma Epsilon, Chosin Few Association, Disabled Veterans Association, ER Coupe Owners Association and Purple Heart Association. Dan’s decorations include 3 Purple Hearts, Combat Action Ribbon, 3 Presidential Unit Citations, Navy Unit Citation, 2 Navy “E” Awards, 3 Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, 5 Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medals, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Korean Service Medal, Rifle and Pistol Expert Badges. Dan has been a member of Semper Fi #1 and has participated in over 1700 military honors services at Riverside National Cemetery. Dan has been married to Margaret “Pat” for 61 years. They have three children, Michael Dyer, US Marine Corps Veteran, Rick Schmidt and Shirley Earl. They also have 5 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren. Visitation will be May 29, 2013 at 10am with Chapel Service to follow at 11am both at Preciado Funeral Home, 923 W. Mill Street, San Bernardino CA 92410. Interment will follow with Military Honors at Riverside National Cemetery, 12:45 PM, Staging Area #4, 22495 E. Van Buren Blvd. Riverside,CA 92518.

Daniel "Gunner" Morgan Dyer

March 29, 1930 - May 17, 2013