MSqt Robert Dilley was born December 28, 1954 at Prairie du
Chien, Wisconsin. He was the first of six sons born to Leroy and
Jennie Dilley. He grew up in Grant County, Wisconsin, where he
graduated from West Grant High School, Patch Grove, Wisconsin.
MSgt Dilley entered the Air Force through delayed enlistment 31
March 1973. He spent the summer working for his father and then
left for active duty In the Air Force on 30 Aug 1973. It was the
first and last time he ever saw his father cry. He entered basic
training at Lackland AFB, TX under the guidance of SSgts Roper
and Leetch. Basic training was completed October 1973, where upon
Airman Basic Dllley was transferred to Keesler AFB, Mississippi
and entered Into the AUTOMATIC TRACKING RADAR REPAIRMAN SPECIALIST
Course. Airman Dilley completed the course 6 August 1974. He PCS'd
to Det 14, 1st CEVG Bismarck, ND. He met his future wife in 1975
and married Pamela Thurn on 14 May 1976.. SrA Dilley PCS'd to
Del 24, 1st CEVG Andersen AFB, GUAM island In the Mariannas islands
20 June 1977. Sra Dilley was given NCO status 1 July 1977. He
was called home on emergency leave 7 July 1977 due to his father's
critical illness. He had just returned home from the hospital
after his dad passed away on 25 July 1977 only to receive a call
from Pam, who stayed behind in Guam, telling him he was the father
of a baby boy, Travis Christopher, born 25 July 1977. His second
son, Todd Alan was born 27 March 1979. Sgt Dilley took his family
and left Guam 20 June 1979 for their next assignment at Nellis
AFB, Nevada, where he was assigned to the 554th Range Group, Tonopah
Test Range. He was notified upon arrival at Nellis that he had
been promoted to SSgt. SSgt Dilley attended the Tactical Air Command
Leadership School at Nellis AFB, and was recognized as a Distinguished
Graduate, April 1980. In May 1980, SSgt Dilley attended the Digital
Electronics course, and completed the AN/MPS-TIA 0&M Maintenance
course In August 1980. In July 1981, SSgt Dilley PCS'd back to
Det 14, 1st CEVG, Bismarck, ND. SSgt Dilley completed the NCO
Academy by correspondence 20 June 1985,just after finding out
he had received a line number to Tech Sgt. He was promoted 1 Nov
1985 and entered the Strategic Air Command 8th AF NCO Academy,
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 7 Nov 1985 and graduated 20 December
1985. He also picked up 12 college credits from the Georgia Military
College during that time. TSgt Dllley completed the History of
U.S. Air Power course, 11 March 1986. Sgt Dilley served as a Sunday
School teacher at Faith Lutheran church for two years prior to
leaving Bismarck. TSgt Dllley left Det 14, 1st CEVG prior to it's
closure in July 1986, in May for a PCS TDY enroute school at Det
5, 1st CEVG Wilder, Idaho, where he attended the AN/MST-TIA 0&M
Maintenance course. Upon completion of his schooling, he left
Idaho to meet his family at their new assignment. Det 18, 1st
CEVG, Forsyth, Mt, arriving 7 Aug 1986. TSgt Dllley became very
involved In the local community with various programs such as
Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Archery Club, bowilng, volunteer umpiring
for youth baseball, and watching his sons play ball. He attended
the Communications-Electronics Quality Control Procedures course
at Keesler AFB, Mississippi September 1988. TSgt Dilley attended
the informatlon Security Program Manager Course at Ellsworth AFB,
SD August 1990. TSgt Dilley was promoted to MSgt 1 September 1992.
On 8 June 1994, he was awarded an Associates Degree in Electronic
Systems Technology from the Community College of The Air Force.
MSgt Dilley spent over 2.5 years of his career on the road to
places such as Tonopah, Nevada, Powell, Wyoming, Bowman, North
Dakota, Lemmon, South Dakota, Forsyth and Lewiston, Montana. He
considers the highlight of his career to be the actions he took
to avert a potential mid air collision between a B-52 bomber and
a FB-111 bomber that was overtaking the B-52 in the low level
route at Powell, Wyoming. MSgt Dilley retires 1 Sept 1994 with
21 years and 1 day of Honorable Active Duty Service in the United
States Air Force.
ANCESTRY:
Robert L. Dilley
son of Leroy Bashford Dilley and Jennie Lee (Bunts)
son of Silva and Alta Grace (Greenfield) Dilley
son of Warren Dilley and Polly Ann Woods
son of Edmond B. Dilley and Rosannah McCord
son of Joseph Dilley and Mary Burnett
son of Thompson Dilley and Jane Dalley
son of Jonathan Dilley and Esther Skinner
son of Aaron Dilley and Hannah Perry?
son of Jonathan Dilley and Hannah Alston
son of John Dill and Sarah (Smith?)
John Dill dates about 1635 to 1650 in the Woodbridge NJ area.
Where they came from is unknown. As I understand the "ey"
was added by Jonathan and John Jr for some reason unknown to me
at this time. This is my lineage based on notes that I received
from Ruth Dilley. She provided me with alot of my lineage. Warren
and Polly Dilley had three children Leonard, Mary, and Silva.
Silva Dilley was initially married to an Agnes Davis. They had
Children William, Warren, and Darrell. Agnes passed away and Silva
remarried this time to Alta Grace Greenfield and as I understand
they had children as follows Verona, Beauford, Leroy and Albert.
There were also I believe two children who were still born. I
believe all births for all children of Silva Dilley were at home
in Scott Township, Crawford County, Wisconsin. My dad and Uncle
Albert did not have birth certificates until about age 36 and
62 respectively.
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