Jerry Dodds was an all-around athlete while attending Ballard High School. He was named All City in baseball and Honorable Mention All City in football and basketball in 1949-50. He played professional baseball with minor league affiliates of Philadelphia and Baltimore from 1951-54 before deciding to make the Army his career.

During his distinguished military career, 1955-75, he received the following awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star with V device, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and was nominated for the Outstanding Young Men of America Award. During his military service, he served as an advisor to John Wayne during the making of the movie “The Green Berets” 1967-68. In addition he holds two Rotary International Superior Service Awards.

After retiring from the Army, he spent 18 years working for the US Government primarily in the state of Georgia where he and his family reside. His work there was as an equipment specialist in the Infantry School’s Directorate of Combat Developments. He was active in the design work for the SUR, which was used in the Gulf War. (This is a Mobil base radio station known as the PRC 126.) He has been published many times in military publications. After leaving government service, he taught at the college level.