James Dalton II

James Leo Dalton II
James Dalton (left) with Douglas MacArthur, most likely on Luzon in 1945
Nickname(s)Dusty
Born(1910-01-20)January 20, 1910
New Britain, Connecticut
DiedMay 16, 1945(1945-05-16) (aged 35)
Luzon, Commonwealth of the Philippines
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1933–1945
RankBrigadier general
Commands161st Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars
Awards
Dalton (left) greets General Walter Krueger on Luzon in an undated photo.
Funeral procession on Luzon for General Dalton two days after his death.
Philippine historical marker for Dalton Pass

James Leo Dalton II (January 20, 1910 – May 16, 1945) was a general and commander of United States Army forces during World War II. He graduated from West Point in 1933[1] and earned the Silver Star during the strategically significant Guadalcanal Campaign in which he commanded the 161st Infantry Regiment as a colonel.

Dalton later commanded the 161st during the New Georgia Campaign in 1943 and Battle of Luzon in 1945 before being promoted and reassigned as assistant commander of the 25th Infantry Division. He was killed by a Japanese sniper during the Battle of Balete Pass on May 16, 1945.

  1. ^ Ohl, John Kennedy; Minuteman, The Military Career of General Robert S. Beightler, Lynne Rienner Publishers (2001) pg 109 ISBN 1-55587-923-3