On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, David Dee Dryden passed away peacefully with his wife and two children by his side. Born in Sioux City, Iowa on Dec. 16, 1935, David was the eldest of six children. His parents, Jack and Elizabeth St. George Dryden, preceded him in death. His was a life of service and dedication.
David was raised in South Sioux City in a newspaper family, and attended school there. In 1958, he graduated from the University of South Dakota as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Services Corps at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. After flight training, his first flying assignment was in Germany. He then became one of the first MSC pilots to qualify as a Helicopter Instrument Flight Instructor and Standardization Pilot.
He was inducted into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame on Feb. 20, 2010. “COL David Dryden is a multi-skilled aviator, commander, and health care administrator. He completed two tours in Vietnam, flying 1,036 combat hours and evacuating over 2,500 patients. Facing almost insurmountable challenges involving aircraft and maintenance support, he activated and commanded the 587th Medical Detachment in Japan that transported more than 63,000 patients during a two-year period. Returning to Vietnam in 1968, he commanded the 571st Medical Detachment during heavy fighting in the A Shau Valley, flying numerous jungle hoist operations and over-water missions to Navy hospital ships. He was an early selection for health care administrator training. His performance as Deputy commander of the Army Institute of Infectious Diseases, Irwin Army Community Hospital, and Executive Officer of William Beaumont Army Medical Center paved the way for other aviators to follow.” His military awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal (29), the Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (2), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm, Vietnam Air Gallantry Medal with Silver Star, Combat Medic Badge, and the Master Army Aviation Badge.
Other key military assignments were Inspector General of Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Commander 56th Medical Batallion, Ft. Ord, Calif. David earned his Master of Hospital Administration from Baylor University in 1971 while serving in the U.S. Army. After 27 years of military service, his civilian career included Administrator, University of New Mexico’s Carrie Tingley Hospital, Albuquerque, N.M., and Administrator, New Mexico Rehabilitation Center. He was an Associate Professor of Management at Frostburg State College, Frostburg, Mary., and a Preceptor for the Baylor University Program in Health Care Administration. He was a Life Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives. In 1984, he was named the Executive of the Year for El Paso Chapter of Certified Professional Secretaries, and received the New Mexico Hospitals and Healthsystems award “Healthcare Administrator of the Year 1994”.
David Dryden married Patricia Ann Frey in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1958. His wife of 65 years, she survives him at the family home. Together they continued to travel the world after they retired in Las Cruces, N.M. in 2002. They left no stone unturned.
David is also survived by his daughter, Dana Dee Elizabeth, and his son David Scott, brother Jim Dryden and his wife, Terri, sisters, Maureen and her husband, Tom Graves, Deb Dryden Isaacson, sister-in-law, Paula Dryden and numerous nieces and nephews. Aside from his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Jack and Rick Dryden, his in-laws, John and Nellie Frey, brothers and sisters-in-law, Glenn and Betty Frey, John and Katherine Frey, Bob and Naomi Phillips, Fred and Sandra Jacobsen, nephews Shane Dryden, Scott and Kirk Slaughter, a niece, Deborah Bauman, special family friend, Joan Smith, son-in-law, Cory Beck and his beloved grandson, Stephen Dee Foster.
His family will remember him for his kindness, intelligence, and perseverance. With a dry wit, he pondered, quipped, and recited words of wisdom. He was someone to be relied upon. He was our hero. David Dee Dryden has crossed the great skies; with his wings may he fly.
Rosary is set for Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyons, Neb., with a memorial mass following. Military honors will follow services at the church.
