WASHINGTON — Joseph Dailey, the fifth Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, passed away last week of natural causes, according to the Daily Pilot of Newport Beach. He was 90.

Dailey served as the corps top enlisted leader for more than three years before retiring from the service in 1973. Altogether he served nearly 32 years in the military, and remained active with the corps even after his retirement.

During World War II Dailey served with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division and was awarded the Silver Star for actions during combat operations on Okinawa in 1945.

Seven years later he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as platoon leader with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division during the Korean War. He also earned the Bronze Star Medal with V device and the Purple Heart for actions during that war. He earned the Navy Commendation Medal for actions during the Vietnam War, and was also deployed with the 2nd Marines during the Cuban contingency operations in 1962.

The California newspaper said services for Dailey were held earlier this week, and burial will take place in Utah on Wednesday.

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