Group photo D/329

1st Lt Dwight L. Adams

First Lieutenant
Dwight L. Adams

First Lieutenant Dwight L. Adams

Dwight Lee Adams was born on July 22, 1922 in Boon, Watauga County, North Carolina to Frank C. and Gertrude (Tester) Adams. He graduated from Virginia High School in 1939 and from Infantry School in 1942.

Dwight served his country in World War Two in the ETO. As a young Major he was assigned to Company D of the 329th Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division. He served as a Platoon Commander from until October 23, 1944 when he was promoted to Company Commander. He served as D Company's Commanding Officer until May 5, 1945. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart Medal, the Silver Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal and the British Silver Cross.

Right after the War, he married Nevorah June Wilson on October 1, 1945 in Ft. Benning, Georgia. He continued to fight for American freedom in the Korean War (1950-1953). Then he graduated from Officers Advanced Course 1959, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Georgia in 1959. Dwight, his wife and their three sons moved in 1965 from Patch Barracks, Germany to Brookings, South Dakota. He served as the Army R.O.T.C commander at South Dakota State University from 1965 until his retirement in 1973, with the one year absence during the Vietnam War were he was a military commander at a base in Vietnam. Dwight was awarded Professor Emeritus from SDSU, one of the few in the nation’s military to do so. He served in the United States Army for 35 years, retiring in November of 1973. Dwight loved Brookings and South Dakota. He was very active in coordinating the first boys intramural basketball program in Brookings in the mid-sixties. Hunting, fishing, and sports became his favorite past times when not involved with the activities of family. His love for Jesus Christ was reflected both in his way of life and his involvement at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church as an active member since 1965. After his Army retirement, Colonel Adams was routinely involved in political management efforts.

Colonel (Ret) Dwight L. Adams, age 85, of Brookings died on December 18, 2007, at the Brookings Hospital. He is buried at the First Lutheran Cemetery with military gravesite rites by the South Dakota National Guard Funeral Honors Team. At the time of his dead, he was survived by his wife Nevorah (1922–2016).