A Marine for the books

Joseph W. Dailey always carried the scriptures and pictures of his wife and Jesus in his pocket.

Scrawled on the back of the image of Jesus was, “Sergeant Major Joseph W. Dailey, United States Marine Corps.”

His commitment to family, faith and country was demonstrated at his memorial services Monday at the Newport Beach Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, where about 100 members of his family, his church and the U.S. Marine Corps gathered to remember the war hero who died of natural causes Thursday in Newport Beach. He was 90.

“My father was pretty much always a sergeant major, even for the 34 years he’s been retired,” Dailey’s daughter Connie Nicholson said, recalling how her father sought out Marines wherever he went. “I’m sure he has found a few Marines already in heaven.”

Born in 1917 in a small town in Arkansas, Dailey was one of 14 children and was raised humbly, with strict rules and high moral values. With an eighth-grade education, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at 18, just after his father died, sending $25 of his $30 monthly salary to his family, who struggled during the Great Depression.

While working as a lumberjack in Oregon, he was invited to a Christmas tree decorating ceremony at the local Mormon temple, where he found both his faith and his first wife, Leone.

He was baptized into the church in 1940 and married in 1942, but not before enlisting in the Marines just a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“He said, ‘If we ever have a war, I’m going to join the Marine Corps before they can take me into the Army,” his son-in-law Keith Nicholson told the congregation, listing off Dailey’s many accomplishments in battle and the honors he received during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Dailey lived the core values of the U.S. Marines — honor, courage and commitment — and was recognized with the title of sergeant major, the highest ranking an enlisted person can receive.

His commendations include the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Navy Cross, the second highest award given for heroic action in combat.

“There is only a small group of Marines that can say they fought in three wars and earned the decorations that Sgt. Maj. Dailey has,” said the current Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, who came from Washington, D.C., to attend the services. “He always led by example and is one of those Marines who we will read about in history books for years to come.”

Dailey was a loving husband both to his wife Leone who died in 1987 and to his widow, June. He was also a supportive grandfather and great-grandfather who never swore, drank, smoked, cheated or gambled.

“He loved his children and his grandchildren so much,” Connie Nicholson said. “He provided them with whatever they needed and would have gone without to give them an education.”

Inheriting more than his grandfather’s name, Dailey Nicholson, 27, carries on Dailey’s legacy as he undergoes boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, the same place Dailey completed his recruit training.

“He was one of the biggest influences on me joining,” he said. “For as long as there is someone in the Marine Corps to remember him, he will be remembered.”

Following a processional to the tune of “America the Beautiful,” the Marine Corps Color Guard that traveled from Camp Pendleton for Monday’s services gave a final, solemn salute as Dailey’s flag-draped coffin was marched from the church, complete with all the pomp he earned during his 30 years of service.

He will be buried Wednesday in Pleasant Grove, Utah.