William Howard Dabney, Colonel, United States Marine Corp (retired), 77, of Lexington, died Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at his home. He was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of the late Hugh Keane Dabney and Mary Hennessey Dabney.
Raised in Panama and Tidewater Virginia, he graduated from the Christ Church School in Middlesex County in 1953, and attended Yale University for one year before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1953. He attained the rank of Sergeant before enrolling at Virginia Military Institute and graduating with the Class of 1961. He married Virginia McCandlish Puller, daughter of Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller in September 1961. The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William H. Dabney (0-80399), Colonel [then Captain], U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer of two heavily reinforced rifle companies of the Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 21 January to 14 April 1968.

An infantry officer, Colonel Dabney served 37 years in the Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam, and earned numerous citations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. 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. He later commanded 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, the 9th Marine Regiment, and Headquarters Battalion. He retired from active duty in 1990, following his final posting as commanding officer of the Naval ROTC Unit at VMI, where he served as Commandant of the VMI Corps of Cadets.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William Howard Dabney Jr.; and an infant daughter, Anne Christian Dabney. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Virginia Puller Dabney; one sister, Martha Dabney Leclere, of Stanardsville; a daughter-in-law, Andrea Shilt Dabney, of Greenwich, Conn.; one son, Lewis Puller Dabney (Kristin), of Lynchburg; one daughter, Virginia Keane Dabney Kauders (Eric), of Richmond; and six grandchildren, Page Dabney, Caroline Dabney, Virginia Kauders, Ellie Dabney, Anna Kate Dabney, and Andrew Kauders. Colonel Dabney was a member of the R.E. Lee Episcopal Church in Lexington.
A Funeral Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 26, 2012, at R.E. Lee Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Tom Crittenden officiating, with a reception following at Virginia Military Institute at Moody Hall. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA 22172, or the VMI Foundation, 304 Letcher Avenue, Lexington, VA 24450. Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington.The Colonel is buried at Christ Church Episcopal, Saluda, VA
Published in Roanoke Times on February 17, 2012 Navy Cross Citation
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Colonel
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.) FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:
Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Colonel [then Captain] William H. Dabney (MCSN: 0-80399), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer of two heavily reinforced rifle companies of the Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 21 January to 14 April 1968. During the entire period, Colonel Dabney's force stubbornly defended Hill 881S, a regional outpost vital to the defense of the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Following his bold spoiling attack on 20 January 1968, shattering a much larger North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force deploying to attack Hill 881S, Colonel Dabney's force was surrounded and cut off from all outside ground supply for the entire 77 day Siege of Khe Sanh. Enemy snipers, machine guns, artillery, and 120-millimeter mortars responded to any daylight movement on his position. In spite of deep entrenchments, his total casualties during the siege were close to 100 percent. Helicopters were his only source of resupply, and each such mission brought down a cauldron of fire on his landing zones. On numerous occasions Colonel Dabney raced into the landing zone under heavy hostile fire to direct debarkation of personnel and to carry wounded Marines to evacuation helicopters. The extreme difficulty of resupply resulted in conditions of hardship and deprivation seldom experienced by American forces. Nevertheless, Colonel Dabney's indomitable spirit was truly an inspiration to his troops. He organized his defenses with masterful skill and his preplanned fires shattered every enemy probe on his positions. He also devised an early warning system whereby NVA artillery and rocket firings from the west were immediately reported by lookouts to the Khe Sanh Combat Base, giving exposed personnel a few life saving seconds to take cover, saving countless lives, and facilitating the targeting of enemy firing positions. Colonel Dabney repeatedly set an incredible example of calm courage under fire, gallantly exposing himself at the center of every action without concern for his own safety. Colonel Dabney contributed decisively to ultimate victory in the Battle of Khe Sanh, and ranks among the most heroic stands of any American force in history. By his valiant combat leadership, exceptional bravery, and selfless devotion to duty, Colonel Dabney reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.