This collection consists of items related to William H. Dabney, including:
William Howard Dabney was born in 1934 in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada to Hugh Keane Dabney (1893-1972) and Mary Hennessey Dabney (1905-?). He attended Yale University and then enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1954. He attained the rank of Sergeant before enrolling at VMI and graduating with the class of 1961. Dabney married Virginia McCandlish Puller (1940-2018), daughter of Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller in September, 1961.
An infantry officer, Dabney served 37 years in the United States Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam. He earned numerous citations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry, and the Navy Cross. While in Vietnam, he commanded India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, on Hill 881S during the Battle of Khe Sanh, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross in 2005.
In 1987 Dabney reported to VMI as Professor of Naval Science and head of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit. He was subsequently appointed Commandant of Cadets and retired from VMI in May 1990. He spent his retirement years in Lexington, Virginia, where he died in 2012.
William H. Dabney's 2005 oral history interview is available online.
There are no restrictions
Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.
William H. Dabney collection, 1960-1991. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
This file contains incoming personal correspondence, including items relating to Battle of Khe Sanh, Vietnam (1968).
This folder includes photocopies of declassified documents relating to Battle of Khe Sanh, Vietnam (1968), personal records, and citations.
Two copies of a typewritten transcript of interview with William H. Dabney by Benis M. Frank, Head, Oral History Section, History and Museum Division, Marines Corps Historical Center.
Transcription of an oral history interview with William H. Dabney, conducted by James F. Dittrich (VMI Class of 1976).
Transcript of oral history conducted with William H. Dabney by Captain Alexander J. Monroe, United States Navy.
Preprint and draft copy of the article "Sniper" written by William H. Dabney. The article concerns the defense of Hill 881S.
The bulk of these items are color photographs taken at Khe Sanh during the Vietnam War. Photographs include soldiers in India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, the United States flag flying on Hill 881S, and related images taken during battle.