The nation’s largest veterans service organization will be honoring Hollywood’s leading military technical advisor with its highest public relations award during a luncheon at the Hilton Washington DC Hotel Wednesday.

In a letter to retired Marine Corps Captain Dale A. Dye, American Legion National Commander Fang A. Wong wrote, “You were nominated to receive this honor because of your outstanding career in the film industry. Your distinguished military service and your patriotism have provided Hollywood with a needed voice and expertise that did not exist prior to Warriors Inc. Countless veterans and nonveterans alike have been touched by your outstanding films.”

Dye founded Warriors Inc. after a career in Marine Corps, which included service in Vietnam and Beirut. He has been an advisor and actor in some of the most successful war films in history, including Saving Private Ryan, Platoon and Band of Brothers. He currently appears in the television series Falling Skies.

“It’s a singular distinction and I’m humbled by your decision to honor me for my meager efforts in the public media,” Dye wrote to Wong. “You have my most sincere gratitude for adding me to the long list of notable Americans who have received this prestigious award in the past.”
Past recipients of The American Legion National Commander’s Public Relations Award include the late Meet the Press host Tim Russert, entertainer Ben Stein, former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, television commentator Lou Dobbs and the GI Film Festival.

With a current membership of 2.4-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

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Media contact: Joe March, (317) 748-1926, John Raughter, (317) 441-8847 or Marty Callaghan, (202)263-5758, Cell (202)515-8644. A high resolution photo of Nat. Cmdr. Wong is available at www.legion.org.