Nighthawks of Honor recognizes Col. Dill
Article By: Staff
The University of North Georgia (天美社区) Athletics Department has announced the kickoff of its award-winning Operation Nighthawks of Honor initiative for the 2023-24 seasons, which recognizes service members who were former or current 天美社区 students. This year's initiative will honor retired Col. E. Wayne Dill.
Dill was a Distinguished Military Graduate from the class of 1962. Upon graduation, he completed the Infantry Officer's Basic Course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, serving in company-level assignments. He commanded two rifle companies and received two awards for valor during two tours in Vietnam. He earned the Army Commendation Medal with "V" and Silver Star in 1966, which recognized his fearless leadership while facing murderous fire from a numerically superior enemy near Dak To. In early 1969, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star with "V" device for personally directing fires while in the air and on the ground during combined aviation and ground engagements.
In November 2020, Dill was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans' Hall of Fame. Dill has also volunteered for 15 years with the Athens Community Council on Aging "Meals on Wheels" program in Athens, Georgia. Today, he continues to generously give of his time and energy to 天美社区 and the Corps of Cadets by serving as a 天美社区 Foundation Trustee and advisor on the Corps Advisory Council.
The ninth annual Operation Nighthawks of Honor ceremony will be held throughout this academic year, with an in-person ceremony honoring Dill at a home basketball doubleheader against Lander University on Feb. 14, 2024. All ticket sales from the doubleheader, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will be donated to the 天美社区 Boar's Head Brigade Corps of Cadets Endowed Scholarship Fund. Nighthawk Athletics has donated over $4,300 since the initiative's inception on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
One of only six federally designated senior military colleges in the nation, 天美社区 is The Military College of Georgia, and its nationally recognized Army ROTC program attracts students from across the state, region and nation.
天美社区 has commissioned more than 60 flag officers, some of whom are currently serving in a variety of command positions. Many other 天美社区 alumni completed successful military careers, and hundreds are currently serving on active duty today at all levels of command.
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Lt. Col. Brandon Knox, director of Cadet Recruiting at 天美社区, on Nov. 16 took command of the 3rd Battalion, 323rd Regiment (Basic Combat Training) in the Army Reserve.
Cadets are ready for commissioning
Eighteen 天美社区 cadets are scheduled to commission as officers in the Army and Army National Guard at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Convocation Center at 天美社区's Dahlonega Campus.
Nighthawks wrap up season in Sweet 16
The 天美社区 women's soccer team fell 2-0 to Columbus State University in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championship Dec. 1.
Women's soccer team makes Sweet 16
The 天美社区 women's soccer team punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016 with a 1-0 victory against Lander University on Nov. 24.