By Bobby Panza
You may know him as the mayor of Muffins Café or a West 71st Street Block Association member, but now 98-year-old Theodore Dixon has another title: New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame inductee.
A ceremony was held on June 22 at Grace & St. Paul’s Church on West 71st Street to honor Dixon, who served in the Navy during World War II. While jazz music played in the background, Dixon spoke to attendees who waited in line to talk with him and thank him for his service.
“It was wonderful,” said Dixon, reminiscing about the event. Dixon, who turns 99 in August, was especially grateful to his mother, a Cherokee Indian, who emphasized the importance of a good education, he said. Born at New York Hospital in 1926, Dixon later attended the Colonial Williamsburg Bruton Heights Education Center in Williamsburg, Virginia. After graduating at 18, Dixon volunteered to serve in the Navy in 1942. “You got to help your country,” he explained. “I gave it my all.”
Dixon completed his basic training in Chicago and was later stationed in San Francisco, from where he shipped out to Pearl Harbor aboard the vessel Japara to defend the islands of the South Pacific. Initially assigned to cooking duties in the galley of the warship in the middle of the ocean, Dixon was later urgently needed ashore to help widen the airstrips for the B29 bombers. “But Theo quickly found himself fighting two wars, not only combating the enemies in the South Pacific Theater – the Imperial Japanese army – but also encountering extreme racism for the first time in his life within the ranks of the U.S. military,” wrote Susan Wands, a supporter of the 71st Street Block Association who penned a short biography of Dixon.
“It’s been a war,” he said, describing his time on the battlefield and the racism he’s faced. “But I plan on staying alive and keeping love alive.” In 1943, Dixon was stationed in Tinian, Guam, and Saipan, where he fought in gruesome military battles. “I remember going into my tent and asking the Almighty to forgive me.” Dixon expressed the profound impact of taking another person’s life: “You lose a little of yourself when you kill a human being.” He also shared that he battles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acknowledging, “If it wasn’t for some good people I’d probably be in the nuthouse.”
Among Dixon’s notable experiences during his service were the opportunities to meet President Truman and to travel to Hiroshima to assist reporters covering the aftermath of the atomic attack. Dixon returned to New York City in 1945 after the war’s conclusion, receiving an honorable discharge.
“Theodore Dixon represents the absolute best of the Upper West Side. I was honored to induct him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal in a statement to WSR.
West 71st Street Block Association co-leader Katina Ellison praised Dixon, stating, “For years, Theo has been an integral part of our block association and our larger community, always there to watch over our neighborhood and make everyone around him feel safe and welcome.”
At the ceremony, local eateries Felice and Muffins Café provided the food. The printed materials were handled by Upper West Side Copy, and the balloons were contributed by Stationery and Toy World.
If you happen to see Theo Dixon outside Muffins Café on Columbus Avenue between 70th and 71st Street, don’t hesitate to say hi.
WSR extends heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Theo for his service.
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Congratulations to you, Theo! I admire your courage, which I definitely lack! 😎
Congratulations!! His willingness to serve the USA is amazing, and not reflected in many progressive Democrats views. They need to learn from him of service to America. The Film Gangs of NY concerned 1860’s racism of Italians against the Irish. By that merit, many Irish Veterans also deserve this honor.
Congrats Theo. I have met you many times through your neighbor Paul. You are an inspiration!
Theo is an Upper West Side treasure!
Warmest congratulations that you have been honored for your courageous service . And thank you for speaking out on the realities of racism.
I have known Mr. Dixon since the early 1990s. I am elated to read about the celebration of one of the greatest of men with which our country has been blessed.
One love Theo!
Fantastic story and hooray for Mr. Dixon. I love that the West Side Rag does these kinds of stories. We have such an amazing community. And Mr. Dixon, thank you for your service and for choosing the UWS as your home. Good on Brad Hoylman-Sigal for nominating Mr. Dixon for this honor.
PS, One little history nerd detail here: the US army was not on Tinian until they seized it during the Battle of Tinian in late July 1944.
living Legend, Theo Dixon. Thank you for your service, Theo! <3
A big salute, Mr. Dixon, and thank you for your service. (I’d use your Navy rank, but I didn’t see it in the article.)
Theo is such a delight. Radiating warmth to all, like the sun. Everyone loves him. His smile lights up the avenue so brightly.
Heartwarming to read this story. Mr Dixon was among the youngest to serve in W W II! And saw some of the worst of it, if he was in Saipan, even without the additional assaults of racism. (I recently watched the 2007 Ken Burns series on WWII, which is still holds up as a remarkable set of stories. Good grief, those times. What people went through, especially in the Pacific. Really the Greatest Generation.) My Dad was two years older and much luckier, being shipped eventually just to the last months of the European war, which was bad enough. He bore those psychic scars for six decades, and always agreed that his generation suffered in ways not recognized for decades. I will be so glad to look for Mr Dixon now and glad to hear he has been honored.
We salute and thank you sir. A life well lived.
Thank you Theo Dixon for your great service to our country. This honor and recognition comes not a moment too soon, especially in the gruesome and deadly battles fought in the Pacific theater in WWII. It brings to mind Iwo Jima among other Island battles. We know that native Americans are often overlooked for their service and heroism. I’m also thinking of Corporal Ira Hayes, of the Pima tribe, who was one of the flag raisers on Mount Suribachi after the bloody battle of Iwo Jima and for whom Johnny Cash wrote a song. Maybe someone will write a ballad for you.
To all of you who love Theo, there is an ongoing GoFund Me for some of his expenses. It isn’t cheap being 98 years old in NYC. If you can help please do
https://www.gofundme.com/f/keeping-love-alive-for-theo-dixon
As a veteran I appreciate your service. If you compare this country to perfection it comes up short, however if you compare to other nations on earth it looks pretty good. Thank you for your service.
Congratulations Theo from Claudia and Wolfgang (Osnabrück in Germany)
We will come to your birthday 100!
I feel good just thinking about Theo. The fact that he’s alive and on this earth has made my life better, and I only know him from having passed him multiple times on Columbus Ave. At first I was suspicious and then I realized that saying “hello” and “I love you” was his thing. What a wonderful person and presence.
I was thrilled to run into Theo a few weeks ago. Stopped and chatted for ten minutes. He has watched my kids grow up the last ten years as we used to walk by him every day starting in preschool. A highlight for the kids each day. Earth is a better place with Theo on it.