Arthur Thomas Dalton

Arthur Thomas Dalton, Jr. 79, of Sanford, Maine, died at his home on Sunday, November 17, 2013.Arthur was born at the Lynn Hospital in Lynn, Massachusetts on May 3, 1934, the son of the late Arthur T. and Imogene (Huggins) Dalton. He attended Lynn public schools, graduating from Lynn English High School in 1952. He later graduated from Clark County Community College in Las Vegas, Nevada. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves on August 5, 1952. He served a total of 37 years, 2 months and 26 days in the Navy, attaining the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer.Arthur worked in the construction field for several years after graduating from high school, building numerous custom homes in and around the Lynn area. In later years the business expanded to commercial construction, swimming pool installations and real estate rentals.During the Vietnam War Arthur volunteered for military service in the U.S. Navy Seabees. He, his wife and daughter were assigned to the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Six, out of Davisville, RI. He was a squad leader in Delta Company, deploying to ChuLai, Vietnam in August of 1967. His squad was assigned to a detachment at Tam Ky, Vietnam constructing an addition to a local Vietnamese hospital. During the Tet offensive of 1968, the detachment was surrounded for 6 days by 4000 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Regular Army troops. During this offensive, Petty Officer Dalton led two of his personnel in attacking the enemy forces, killing 35 enemy soldiers. Upon returning to Davisville he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in May, 1968. He was authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon and the Combat "V" for valor in combat.In 1969, Arthur was assigned as an instructor for three years and later to the 21st Naval Construction Regiment as Shops Chief followed by being assigned as Assistant Officer in Charge of a detail assigned to New London, CT. In 1973 he was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer and assigned to the Operations Department of Commander Construction Battalions, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. When the base at Davisville was closed in 1974, he transferred to Little Creek, Virginia with the command. In October 1975 he and his family were assigned to Commander Construction Battalions U.S. Atlantic Fleet Detachment, Naples, Italy as Assistant Officer in Charge. In July 1978 he was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer and later transferred to U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Five, Port Hueneme, California as Operations Chief.In 1981 Arthur transferred to Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California as head of the Planning and Estimating Division of the Civil Engineering Support Office (CESO), supervising 27 Naval Seabees. In 1984 he transferred back to CBC Port Hueneme, CESO, where he was assigned to the Samms Department, supplying computers and software to numerous naval commands. In October 1989, he and his wife retired from the Navy and moved to Pahrump, Nevada, setting up a new home. It was here that he returned to college and completed his degree. In June 2000, Arthur and his wife sold their home in Nevada and moved to Sanford, Maine, returning to their New England roots.Arthur was predeceased by a grandson, Brandon J. Port and by a sister, Janice Young.Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Barbara Dalton of Sanford; a daughter, Deborah May (Dalton) Port and her husband Paul S. of Pahrump, Nevada; two grandchildren, Damon M. Port and Cassandra L. Port, both of Pahrump, Nevada; three great-grandchildren, Sara Beth Port, Brandon J. Port and Jaxson E. Port; all of Pahrump, Nevada; two siblings, Freeman H. Dalton and his companion Marcia McMorrow of West Paris, ME and Imogene George and her husband Russell of Lyman, ME and many nieces and nephews.A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:30 AM on Thursday, November 21st in the Robin Section of the Pine Grove Cemetery located in Lynn, Massachusetts.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society at any Naval base or the American Cancer Society, New England Division, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.