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Theodore L. Dobol
United States Army non-commissioned officer of Polish origin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Theodore Louis Dobol (born Tadeusz Dąbal[a]; October 24, 1915 – November 15, 1996) was a United States Army non-commissioned officer of Polish-American origin who served with the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He became a legend among enlisted leaders, known by the call-sign "King Dobol",[1] and is credited as the first soldier in the U.S. Army to hold the rank of Command Sergeant Major at a regimental level.[2]
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Early life
Dobol was born Tadeusz Dąbal in Passaic, New Jersey, to Polish immigrants Franciszek and Maria Dąbal. When he was six years old, the family returned to Poland and settled in the village of Stany (near Bojanów, Podkarpackie Voivodeship). He spent his youth in Poland before returning to the United States in the late 1930s, where he anglicized his name to Theodore Louis Dobol and enlisted in the U.S. Army.[1]
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Military career
Dobol joined the 26th Infantry Regiment prior to the U.S. entry into World War II. He fought in the North African campaign, Sicily operation, and landed with the 1st Infantry Division on Omaha Beach during the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. He was cited for gallantry at Saint-Lô (9 June 1944) and received multiple Silver Stars and Purple Hearts for heroic actions throughout the campaigns.[3] After the war he remained in the Army, serving in post-war Germany and as part of the occupation forces. He later became one of the earliest holders of the newly created rank of Command Sergeant Major (1959), assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Dobol was renowned for his strict discipline, mentorship, and loyalty to his soldiers.[4]
In the 1960s Dobol was assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, training cadets and developing NCO programs. He retired from active duty around 1969 after more than thirty years of service.
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Legacy
Dobol’s career became a model for later generations of non-commissioned officers. His nickname "King Dobol" was used as the radio call-sign for the 26th Infantry Regiment and later as the name of a U.S. Army base in Bosnia ("Fort Dobol") during the IFOR/SFOR missions in the 1990s.[5] He died in Chicago on November 15, 1996, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[1]
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