Dale Dye is one of the most recognized and respected players in the movie and TV industry. His work has had huge effect both behind and before the cameras, particularly in projects with a military theme. He has been credited with single-handedly changing the way Hollywood makes war movies.
Dale is a native of Southeast Missouri. In 1962, he graduated as a cadet officer from Missouri Military Academy with hopes of attending the U.S. Naval Academy. When that failed and there was no money available for college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reported to boot camp in January 1964.
He served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970 surviving 31 major combat operations. He emerged from Southeast Asia highly decorated including the Bronze Star with V for Valor and three Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in combat. He spent 13 years as an enlisted Marine, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant before he was chosen to attend Officer Candidate School. Appointed a Warrant Officer in 1976, he later converted his commission and was a Captain when he was sent to Beirut with the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in 1982–83.
Dale Dye portrayed Col. Robert Sink in Band of Brothers. Image: © HBO, Dreamworks Pictures and other relevant production studios
He served in a variety of assignments around the world and along the way managed to graduate with a degree in English from the University of Maryland.
As a lifelong movie buff with a special penchant for war movies, Dale decided to head for Hollywood when he retired from active duty in 1984. His idea was to see if he could help make war movies more realistic and improve screen portrayals of military men and women. He founded Warriors, Inc., a business with the stated agenda of shining some long-overdue positive light on the people who serve and sacrifice in American military uniform past, present and future.
Author Dale Dye and Michael J. Fox in the movie Casualties of War. Image: © Columbia Pictures and other relevant production studios
Over the years, Dale built his business into the premier military consultancy to motion pictures and television, employing his well-respected, rugged and realistic method of fully immersing actors in a boot camp-style training program before the cameras roll. To date his firm has worked on more than fifty movies and TV shows including several Academy Award and Emmy winning productions.
To further his agenda, Dale also founded Warriors Publishing Group, which publishes a premium slate of military-themed books written by veteran authors.
Dale Dye stands with actor Tom Hanks, director Steven Spielberg and others during the filming of Saving Private Ryan. Image: © Dreamworks Pictures, Paramount Pictures and other relevant production studios
Dale Dye is a published novelist, screenwriter and director as well as a consummate character actor with critically acclaimed appearances in many films and television productions. He is a frequent speaker to business and civic groups on the application of military planning and organizational leadership principles to other organizations.
More information on his military and show business careers can be found at Warriors Inc.
Military Decorations
- Bronze Star with “V” for Valor (Vietnam, 1968)
- Three Purple Hearts
- Meritorious Service Medal (Okinawa)
- Two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat “V” Device (Vietnam and Beirut)
- Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V” Device (Vietnam)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon (Vietnam and Beirut)
- Vietnamese Honor Medal 1st Class
- Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
- Legionnaire, Order of St. Maurice
- Numerous professional awards as a combat correspondent and military journalist
Featured Films
- Invaders From Mars
- Kid
- Heaven and Earth
- Platoon
- Jacob’s Ladder
- Guarding Tess
- The Beast
- Blue Sky
- Natural Born Killers
- Casualties of War
- Dogfight
- Puppet Masters
- The Fourth War
- Dead On/Relentless
- Low Down Dirty Shame
- 84 Charlie MoPic
- JFK
- Forrest Gump
- Born on the Fourth of July
- Last of the Mohicans
- The War
- Always
- Sniper
- Under Siege II/Dark Territory
- Firebirds (co-author/producer)
- Under Siege
- Outbreak
- Bilko
- Wag The Dog
- Mission Impossible
- Mayday: Delta Force
- Starship Troopers
- Saving Private Ryan
- Rules of Engagement
- The Great Raid
- Missing Brendan
- Billionaire Boys Club
- Alexander (2nd Unit Director)
- Spy Game
- Resurrecting the Champ
- Music Within
- Tropic Thunder
- Greyhound
Television
- Neon Empire (Showtime)
- Supercarrier (ABC)
- Tour of Duty (CBS)
- Vietnam War Stories (HBO)
- Tales from the Hollywood Hills (PBS)
- Guts and Glory (CBS)
- By Dawn’s Early Light (HBO)
- Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (TNT)
- Mission of the Shark (CBS)
- Servants of Twilight (Showtime)
- Space: Above and Beyond (Fox)
- The Raven (CBS)
- JAG (NBC)
- The Port Chicago Mutiny (NBC Movie)
- Roughriders (TNT)
- Seven Days (Fox)
- Sam’s Circus (CBS Co-Producer)
- Air America (ABC)
- Band of Brothers (HBO Series)
- Semper Fi (NBC Co-Producer)
- A. Law (NBC)
- Entourage (HBO Series)
- 44 Minutes (F/X)
- Las Vegas (NBC)
- Rocket Power (Nickelodeon)
- The Conquerors (History Channel)
- The Loop (Fox)
- Commander in Chief (ABC)
- The Pacific (HBO Series)
- Falling Skies (TNT)
- Masters of the Air (Apple TV+)
Other
- Rooster/Alice In Chains (MTV Video)
- Video Host for Terminator 2/3D (Universal Studios – Orlando/Hollywood/Osaka, Japan)
- Video Host for TimeEscape, Port Chicago Theme Park
- Training Consultant for Hilton Hotels Star Trek: The Adventure, Las Vegas
- Exclusive Design Consultant/EA Games/Medal of Honor Series Video Games
- National TV Commercial, Reebok “Super Soldier”
- National TV Commercial, Bank Of America “Heritage”
- TV Host of National DAV Centennial Tribute
Novels
- Laos File
- Peleliu File
- Chosin File
- Beirut File
- Contra File
- Havana File
- Aztec File
- Sea Hunt
- Bangkok File
- Delta File
- Korean Odyssey
- Run Between the Raindrops
- Outrage
- Platoon
- Conduct Unbecoming
- Duty & Dishonor
