Author Biography
Dale Lee Sumner was born and reared in a very Navy family. His father was a retired Chief Petty Officer and his mother a Yeoman Third during World War II (both are buried in Arlington National Cemetery). His brother was a Navy SEAL and is buried with his parents at Arlington. His sister is married to a career Naval officer. After twenty-four years of his own Naval service (seven years enlisted and seventeen years commissioned), Dale retired in December 1991 as a Commander (O-5) in the Supply Corps. While stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station at Yuma, Arizona, as a Navy Third Class Petty Officer (AZ3), he experienced the unusual privilege of being awarded the station's highest honor of 'Marine of the Month, July 1970.' An association with the Marines continued throughout the rest of his career. In 1996, Dale co-founded the first Civil War Federal Marine Re-enacting unit, U.S. Marine Detachment, Washington Navy Yard, 1859-1865. He acquired his Bachelor of Science Degree through the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) at Miami University, Ohio (1974). He later earned his Master of Science Degree from Golden Gate University, San Francisco (1984). Dale has two sons and four grandchildren. He and his wife, Cindy, winter in Florida and travel the United States in their motorhome during the summer. This is his first novel -- number one in an expected series of five about 'The Forgotten Marines' of the Civil War.
