Operation Aviary

About the Book

Endorsement by Nels Running, Major General, USAF (Ret)
Executive Director, Department of Defence

Korean War Commemoration Committee

The history of the Korean War remains unknown to far too many who owe gratitude to those whose courage, commitment and sacrifices secured a victory for freedom and democracy over communist aggression. Even deeper in the shadows of the unknown, lay the clandestine operations of 'special' forces, whose actions often serve to enhance the conventional forces' opportunities for success in combat operations. Cloaked in "special secrecy" at the time, the stories of special operations emerge from the shadows much later than conventional combat histories.

In this work, Colonel Doug Dillard illuminates an important arena of operations heretofore largely ignored: airborne special operations. Special operations teams and individuals, sometimes supported by or in conjunction with 'available' conventional resources, made daring airborne penetrations of the enemy 's rear areas and areas of current combat operations to disrupt or defeat the enemy's operations. They gathered and reported critical elements of information regarding enemy dispositions and capabilities to the conventional forces. The men of "Operation AVIARY" were indeed force multipliers whose actions contributed immeasurably to the United Nations Command's victory over communist aggression. A FASCINATING READ!

About the Author

Colonel Dillard enlisted at Fort McPherson, Georgia July 3, 1942, at the age of 16. Recruit training done at Camp Walters, Texas, then the Parachute Schoool at Fort Benning, Georgia, Class Number 29, November, 1942. Colonel Dillared retired 30 September 1977 after serving thirty-five years on active duty.

Enlisted service in regular units began with duty as a charter member of Company A, 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion in the Republic of Panama and ended with the inactivation of the Battalion in Belgium in January 1945. Service with the Battalion was as a Rifleman, Squad leader, 60 MM Mortar Squad and ommunications Sergeant. Additional enlisted service was as Platoon Sergeant and 1st Sergeant, "C" Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Ist sergeant, "F" Company, 504th Parachute InfantryrRgiment and Sergeant Major 108th Airbone Infantry Division.

Warrant service began with an appointment as WOJG, Unit Administrator, HQ & HQ Company, 82d Airborne Divisions 1948-1950.

Commissioned service began with a direct appointment as 2d Lieutenant, Infantry and assignment to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment as Regimental Counter-fire Officer, Executive officer, Hq & Hq Company and finally as Regimental Motor Officer, 1950-1951.

In November, 1951 orders reassigned Col. Dillard to the 8240th Army Unit in Korea as Partisan Unit Intelligence Officer, Commander Airdrop Agent/Guerrilla Team and Line crosser team withe Ist Marine Division. Upon completion of the Korean combat tour was reassigned as S-3, Georgia Military District, Atlanta, GA.

In March, 1955, Colonel Dillard entered the US Army Career Intelligence Program and had subsequent Intelligence assignments as follows, Instructor, Army Intelligence School, Fort Holabird, 1955 attendance at the Army Language School, Monterey, CA, 1956-1960 Special Agent and Team Chief, Czech Collection Team, Munich, Germany. Reassigned to the Collection Division, G-2, US. Army, Europe 1963. 1965 Assigned Operations Officer, 513th MI Group, Berlin, Germany. 1965-1968 assigned as Executive Officer, Continental Army Command Intelligence Center, Commander, 14th MI Battalion (Fld Army) and Commander, 48th MI Group. Reassigned to Vietnam Dec. 1968 as Phoenix Coordinator, IV Corp, MACV. Can tho.

Upon return to the United States was assigned as Director of Security, OJCS 1969 to 1970, while there was selected to attend the Army War College and promotion to Colonel.

Upon graduation from the Army War College was assigned as Chief, Military Intelligence Branch from 1971-1973, then reassigned as Commander, 500th MI Group, Hawaii. Reassigned January 1975 as Assistant Deputy Director, HUMINT, DIA. In September 1977 retired from active duty. Inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, 1990.

Colonel is married to Virginia Hornsby Dillard also from Atlanta GA and has four daughters, Cynthia Ann Alley, Douglas Lynne Jasen, Cheryl Robin Staurulakis and Michelle Paula Resnick. The family has since grown with nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Upon retirement Colonel Dillard became involved in Real Estate Management and finished his second career as Vice President and Regional Director, Northeastern United States for Insignia Financial Corporation.

Since retirement and while engaged in the Real Estate Industry, Colonel Dillard has actively counseled and aided other retired military personnel seeking post-retirement employment as well as encouraging such personnel to actively participate in their Military Unit Association and other Fraternal Associations that actively support the US Armed Forces. Presently , Colonel Dillard has activated and serves as Chariman, 50th Anniversary of the Korean War, 8240th Army Unit, Combined Command for Reconnaissance Activities, Korea, Commeomorative Committee. Joined the K.L.O. 8240th Army Unit, Korean War Veterans Association, USA as member of its Advisory Council and the War Veterans Association, 8240 Army Units, Partisan Forces, Seoul, Korea and the White Tigers Veterans Association, Inchon, Korea.