Today marks the seven year anniversary of LTC Dickerson’s death at the Pentagon. I never knew LTC Dickerson while he was living, and wouldn’t to this day if not for his grave near my Granny’s at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. I noticed a bench with his name inscribed during a visit to Granny shortly after her funeral.

LTC Dickerson made a huge impact on many throughout his Army career. His professional biography written by LTC Guy Mallow is evidence enough.

Lieutenant Colonel Jerry D. Dickerson, United States Army, 41, of Durant, Mississippi, was working in the Pentagon when the terrorists attacked on 11 September 2001 and was officially confirmed dead as a result of hostile action on 24 September 2001.

Lieutenant Colonel Dickerson graduated high school in 1978 and joined the Mississippi Army National Guard, serving four years. He attended Mississippi State University earning his bachelors degree in Business Economics and received his commission through the ROTC program, graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Commissioned in 1983 as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery, he attended his Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Lieutenant Colonel Dickerson’s subsequent assignments provided him a broad base of Troop and Staff positions: Assigned to the Berlin Brigade, he served as a Battalion Fire Support Officer, a Brigade Fire Support Officer and Fire Direction Officer. Returning to Fort Sill he attended the Field Artillery Advanced Course and was subsequently assigned to the 3-18th Field Artillery Battalion where he served as a liaison officer and battery commander. Following his command, he was assigned to Headquarters III Corps Artillery as Secretary of the General Staff. Assignments during his career also included: 2-17th Field Artillery Battalion Camp Hovey, Korea, as the Operations Officer (S3), and Headquarters Department of the Army Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs, Washington DC, where he served as the assistant executive officer

Lieutenant Colonel Dickerson’s awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit and Purple Heart (both posthumously); the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster; the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Parachutist and Air Assault Badges.

Lieutenant Colonel Dickerson earned a Masters in Operations Analysis & Engineering from Texas A&M in 1992. He then was assigned to Fort Lee, Virginia at the United States Army Logistics Management College. There he assumed the duties as an Assistant Professor of Operations Research at the Army’s primary Operations Research Course, the Operations Research Systems Analysis for Military Applications (ORSA MAC I). He was responsible for instruction in graduate level problem solving methodologies, statistics, math programming, decision theory and cost analysis. LTC Dickerson also had the administrative responsibility of course director to the Management Science phase of the Logistical Executive Development Course (LEDC). In addition to his instructional duties, LTC Dickerson conducted analyses and served as a consultant for the Army and the Department of Defense on technical and tactical issues. During his 18 months as an instructor he constantly received praise from students for his professionalism, leadership and concern for the students’ success. Despite conducting over 1170 class hours to over 450 students in the Continental United States and abroad, LTC Dickerson found the time to develop a course for the Department of Defense on Parametric Cost Estimating. Although several Department of Defense Schools competed for this course offering, LTC Dickerson’s was the clear winner. His class materials were reproduced by the proponent institution and distributed as a user’s manual. Despite his extraordinary teaching load, it was noted that LTC Dickerson still made the time to support the community by serving on Fort Lee post councils, helping the local elementary school with computer training, and coaching youth soccer.

Lieutenant Colonel Dickerson’s source of comfort and great pride was always his family. His wife Page and their two children, Beth 15 and Will 11, survive him.

Memorial services were held at the Pentagon on 25 September 2001, and at the Immanuel Bible Church, Springfield, Virginia on 13 October 2001. Internment was at the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas on 6 October 2001.

LTC Dickerson’s dedication as a husband, father, and soldier will be greatly missed by us all.

May God rest your soul, sir. You will never be forgotten.