serviceyears laterwork branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date nickname rank article_title name
1954 & ndash ; june 30 , 1990 vmi commandant of cadets -lrb- 1989 -- 1990 -rrb- united states marine corps vietnam company , hill 881s , khe sanh -rrb- , 3rd war battalion , 26th marines : india company -lrb- india & mike lexington , virginia 15 february 2012 st. john , new brunswick , canada united states of america vietnam war : 3rd marine division -lrb- reinforced -rrb- navy 2 -rrb- bronze star medal -lrb- 2 -rrb- purple heart cross medal defense meritorious service medal -lrb- 2 -rrb- combat action silver ribbon republic of vietnam gallantry cross -lrb- 2 -rrb- star medal legion of merit -lrb- vietnam 881 south -rrb- war : battle of khe sanh -lrb- hill 28 september 1934 bill colonel william h. dabney
 william howard dabney
william h. dabney

william howard dabney , -lrb- september 28 , 1934 -- february 15 , 2012 -rrb- , was a retired colonel in the united states marine corps .
he was awarded the navy cross for extraordinary heroism in the vietnam war .
he also served as the commandant of cadets at virginia military institute -lrb- vmi -rrb- from 1989 to 1990 .
