Beaufort’s Bill Dolley, 65, joined the United States Marine Corps in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1976. After Boot Camp in San Diego, he trained as a Signals Intelligence Specialist in Pensacola, Fla. His first duty station was with the Radio Battalion Tactical Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from which he deployed numerous times aboard Navy ships and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
His next assignment was further training at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, specializing in analysis and reporting. He then was assigned to Okinawa for a year, followed by duty with another Radio Battalion in Hawaii from which he deployed to Korea several times. On his follow-on assignment he was attached to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Md., from which he deployed to Europe for nearly half his tour. Then to the opposite side of the world, he served with a unit in Guam and for Desert Shield deployed to Saudi Arabia. It was back to Hawaii for a three-year tour that included nearly half the time deployed to Korea, Okinawa and short assignments in Hong Kong and Australia.
He next spent three years back attached to the NSA at Fort Meade followed by a tour at Parris Island in the Recruit Screening Office. He retired in 2002 as a Master Sergeant with 26 years of service. In 2005 he was recalled to active duty and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq for 8 months. Released from duty in 2006, now with 27 years of service, he became a Civil Servant working at Parris Island for 20 more years. He’s lived in Beaufort since 1997.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
