|
PRIVATE
HUBERT EINO HARJU
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / COPPER CITY, MICHIGAN
Born April 4, 1924.
Died February 26, 1945 on Iwo Jima.
Photo submitted by his nephew, Thomas Harju.
Died February 26, 1945 on Iwo Jima.
Photo submitted by his nephew, Thomas Harju.
CORPORAL
NICOLAS HERNANDEZ
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Corporal Nicolas Hernandez is one of the bravest Marines you've never heard of. He was from Los Angeles, California and is a posthumous Navy Cross recipient. Nic joined the Corps early in the war and served with the 1st Parachute Battalion in the Solomon Islands. He was on Guadalcanal and fought in the famed battle for Edson's Ridge. He was also in the Chouiseul operation. He was a plankholder in the 5th Marine Division and was first assigned as a fireteam leader in 1st Plt, H 3/26. Before Iwo Jima, he was assigned as a squad leader. By all accounts, he didn't take shit from anyone. He was a boxer and he earned a reputation as a tough but fair leader who could have fun with the boys. Below is a photo of him and a copy of his original Navy Cross citation. The last photo is a Hernandez (back row far left) and his men at Camp Tarawa on Thanksgiving 1944. His parents received his award in 1946. Nicolas Hernandez is buried in the Punch Bowl outside of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Story and photos submitted by Mark Flowers.
Story and photos submitted by Mark Flowers.
CORPORAL
WALTER E. HUDSON
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION
Born May 17, 1923. Died April 25, 2000.
Buried at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Cemetery.
Submitted by his daughter, Terrisa Meeks.
Buried at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Cemetery.
Submitted by his daughter, Terrisa Meeks.
corporal
robert h. johnson
13TH MARINE REGIMENT / MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
Corporal Robert H. Johnson was born November 4, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He entered the service in December 1942 and served in the 13th Marine Regiment on Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged in January 1946. He passed away in 1974. His family has a scrapbook from his service that contains letters, a small Japanese flag, and other items.
Submitted by his nephew, Jim Thompson.
Submitted by his nephew, Jim Thompson.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
HARRY JOYNER
26TH MARINE REGIMENT
Died March 1945 on Iwo Jima.
Submitted by his nephew, Joe Joyner.
Submitted by his nephew, Joe Joyner.
SERGEANT
JAMES M. KIRKLAND, JR.
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Sergeant James M. Kirkland, Jr. was born in Montgomery, Alabama on December 10, 1921 to Annie Blanch & James M. Kirkland. He attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery but did not graduate. He dropped out of school to join the Marine Corps. He became a Marine Paratrooper and served with the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion on Choiseul Island and Guadalcanal and spent R&R time on New Zealand. When he was with the 5th Marine Division, his unit had a lion for a mascot and my sister has a picture of our dad with that lion. He trained at Camp Tarawa in Hawaii. When I was in my 20s back in the 1970s, he mentioned something about a luau in Hawaii and a hula girl there. My mother got very mad! My sister & I laughed! He married my mother, Arabelle Williams, on March 8, 1944. She was born in Pana, Illinois, one of six brothers and sisters. Her mother was a widow and very poor because of the Depression so in 1931, she loaded all six children on a train and took them to the Masonic Home Orphanage in Montgomery, Alabama where a lot of children were taken because their parents couldn't afford to take care of them. My parents met at "The Home", although my dad didn't live there. Their song was "I'll Be Seeing You" and they were never able to listen to that song for their entire 42 years of marriage. When he was about to leave for overseas, my parents strolled through Oak Park in Montgomery, although that was the G-rated version that they told us kids! My father didn't talk much about the war but he never got over it and suffered from PTSD and hallucinations for the rest of his life. It was common for him to wake up screaming that he saw Japanese soldiers in the back yard. My father died in Montgomery, Alabama on July 13, 1986.
Story submitted by his daughter, Karen Kirkland Bagley.
Story submitted by his daughter, Karen Kirkland Bagley.
PLatoon sergeant
JAMES W. J. B. KITCHEN
27TH MARINE REGIMENT
Photos submitted by his son, James Kitchen.
PRIVATE
Alfred levi martin
27TH MARINE REGIMENT / new harbor, maine
My dad, Private Alfred L. Martin hit the beaches on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. He was in the 4th or 5th wave going in. He did get to see the flag up on Mt. Suribachi. He suffered a head wound from an explosion in battle be refused any special treatment after seeing what his buddies all around him had gone through. Dad did occupation duty in Japan after hostilities ended and left the Marines as a corporal. After the war we lived in Waldoboro, Maine and as a young kid I always asked him what he did during the war? Dad never really talked about it too much, but after a few beers he might open up a little. Living in town at that time was Brigadier General Clayton O. Totman, USMC. He and my dad met and became friends. When he found out that dad was an Iwo Jima veteran he gave my dad a big hug and said, "You're one of our boys." When dad died, I went to a local military store and bought a 5th Marine Division patch which dad was buried with. His funeral was held in Damariscotta, Maine. At the time, the Brunswick Naval Air Station was still operational. I wanted to give a final tribute to my dad so I called over to Brunswick and explained the situation. Two Marines from Brunswick showed up and presided at my dads funeral, folding the flag and presenting to my sister. The United States Marine Corp is exactly what they stand for. Always faithful, always loyal. Semper Fi.
Story submitted by his sone, Eric Martin.
Story submitted by his sone, Eric Martin.
corporal
gilbert f. mayes
Photo submitted by his son, Ron Mayes.
PHARMACIST'S MATE Second CLASS
DANIEL E. MCLEOD
31ST REPLACEMENT BATTALION / GORHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Daniel Ellsworth McLeod was born in Gorham, New Hampshire and lived in Stratford, New Hampshire for a short time before going off to war. He joined the U.S. Navy and was on a ship that was torpedoed. He was wounded by shrapnel and earned his first Purple Heart. After the torpedo attack, he recovered from his wounds and then transferred to the Marine Corps. He was wounded on Iwo Jima serving with the 31st Replacement Battalion. He was then transferred to a hospital ship and then moved to a hospital on the island of Guam where he died on March 31, 1945. His body was buried at the Punchbowl in Hawaii, he was 19 years old. His nephew, John McLeod, is looking for anyone that knew his uncle.
Story submitted by his nephew, John McLeod.
Story submitted by his nephew, John McLeod.
CORPORAL
JOHN C. MCWILLIAMS
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / FLINT, MICHIGAN
My father, John C. McWilliams was born in Ranger, Texas on December 22, 1921. His parents were Calvin S. McWilliams and Agnes Edith McWilliams. He lived in Texas and Arkansas before moving to Flint, Michigan. He graduated from Mary Crapo High School in Swartz Creek, Michigan in 1940. He worked at Buick in Flint before joining the Marine Corps. My father served on Bougainville, Choiseul, and Vella Lavella with the Paramarines. He married Doris Jean Brodie on March 25, 1944 in Flint, Michigan while on leave recovering from malaria. He was assigned to the 5th Division, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, Company A. He landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945 on Green Beach in the first wave. He was wounded on Iwo suffering a scalp wound. He was a childhood friend of Tony Stein, also of Company A. My father helped Tony Stein with the making of his Stinger Machine Gun, and he is also listed as a witness to Stein's heroic actions that posthumously earned him the Medal of Honor. My father went to Sasebo, Japan during the post-war occupation. After the war he had two children, Sharon L. (McWilliams) Paulin born in 1947 and John L. McWilliams born in 1952. He worked for General Motors at AC Spark Plug and later worked at Garrison Hardware and then John C. Steele Plumbing & Heating. My father retired around 1978 after be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He died on April 29, 1995 in Flint, Michigan.
Story and photos submitted by his son, John L. McWilliams.
Story and photos submitted by his son, John L. McWilliams.
private
robert wayne miller
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / ATKINSON, NEBRASKA
Born on November 12, 1925. Died on March 7, 1945 on Iwo Jima.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Claude I. Miller.
Photo submitted by his nephew, Daniel Miller.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Claude I. Miller.
Photo submitted by his nephew, Daniel Miller.
CORPORAL
CHARLES E. MOON
5TH MOTOR TRANSPORT BATTALION / NEW CASTLE, INDIANA
Charles Ellsworth Moon was born on August 5, 1922 in New Castle, Henry County, Indiana. He was the son of Ardith L. Moon of Muncie, Indiana and Florence L. Montgomery Moon born in Dayton, Kentucky. His siblings were Ruth Moon Emery, William Richard Moon (who also served as a Marine in World War II), Jackson Moon, Thomas Robert Moon (who served as a Marine in Korea), Betty Jane Moon Looper, and Kenneth Moon, and Virginia Moon Peters. Charles Moon married Ola Mae McCormick Harges on January 18, 1947 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Together they had one daughter, Patricia Ann Moon who was born on September 23, 1954 but died on July 24, 1971. Following his service in World War II, Charles worked as an auto body repair man. After moving to Long Beach, California he worked in cement finishing. He died in Simi Valley, California on August 5, 2015, the morning of his 93rd birthday.
Story and photos submitted by his niece, Cindy White.
Story and photos submitted by his niece, Cindy White.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
RICHARD C. PALMER
31ST REPLACEMENT BATTALION / MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
My grandfather, Richard Carlisle Palmer, was a World War II veteran and served with the 5th Marine Division on Iwo Jima. He was born on June 25, 1921 in Minneapolis. He worked as a short order cook before the war. He entered boot camp at San Diego on March 29, 1942 and was trained as an Automatic Rifleman. He spent time at Camp Elliott, California and Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He arrived in the first wave on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. He was a witness to the famous flag raising on Mt. Suribachi as he was fighting on the beach below. He fought on Iwo until March 8 when he received a gunshot wound to the wrist. He was evacuated to a medical ship and brought back to Hawaii. He received the Purple Heart Medal on March 24, 1945.
News articles and photos submitted by his granddaughter, Mickey Matteson.
News articles and photos submitted by his granddaughter, Mickey Matteson.
private first class
CLINTON A. PALUMBO
3RD AMPHIBIAN TRACTOR BATTALION / CLEVELAND, OHIO
Clinton A. Palumbo was born in Cleveland, Ohio on September 5, 1923. His family later moved to Cleveland Heights, which was where he joined the Marine Corps. Clinton was a veteran of two battles in the Kwajalein Atoll, Roi and Namur, as well as Guam and Iwo Jima. His meticulous pay records indicate that he was paid all of $56 for the 6 weeks he was on Iwo Jima. Imagine that! After the war he was employed by the city newspaper, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, as an artist. He married and moved to South Euclid, Ohio about 15 miles east of Cleveland. There he raised seven children and after 40 years at the newspaper he retired to Sarasota, Florida. He recently moved back to the Cleveland area and is living in an apartment in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He is in fairly decent health and will be 95 years old this year.
The first photo is Clinton and some men from his company on Guam. He is kneeling in the center of the photo, dark hair, holding the rifle.
The ribbons are the ones that he wore on his uniform.
Story and photos submitted by son-in-law, Thomas Plunkett.
The first photo is Clinton and some men from his company on Guam. He is kneeling in the center of the photo, dark hair, holding the rifle.
The ribbons are the ones that he wore on his uniform.
Story and photos submitted by son-in-law, Thomas Plunkett.
corporal
william t. parks
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / INDIANA
Died 1945 on Iwo Jima.
Company G, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
Submitted by his cousin, Ron Ryland.
Company G, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
Submitted by his cousin, Ron Ryland.
PHARMACIST'S MATE FIRST CLASS
BERNARD A. PLOTKIN
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class Bernard Plotkin joined the Navy Reserve when conscription took place in 1940. He was called into service in 1942. He served on the USS Oakland, a new light cruiser for 18 months and when they got to the west coast he had a 30 day leave and was supposed to be stationed at a Navy hospital in Seattle. But when he reported there, he found out he was now a member of the fleet Marines & wound up at Camp Pendleton. His mention in the “Spearhead” shows him as a Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class, but he was a 1st Class at the beginning of Iwo and wound up as a Chief Pharmacist's Mate. His Marine uniform had six stripes.
Story and photo submitted by his son, Justin Plotkin.
Story and photo submitted by his son, Justin Plotkin.
pharmacist's mate first class
WILLIAM EDWARD POTTS
27TH MARINE REGIMENT / RIPLEY, WEST VIRGINIA
William Edward Potts was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Dewey Potts. He was born on November 8, 1924. He served as a Navy Corpsman for the 5th Marine Division and received the Silver Star for his service on Iwo Jima where he was wounded, receiving the Purple Heart. Bill also served in the Korean War. His final rank was Master Chief Hospital Corpsman. He died on January 15, 2003 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a full military honor guard - Section 67 Site 4628.
The following is from the Jackson Herald World War II Military Service News from the years 1943, 1944 and 1945. Transcribed and annotated by Betty Kessell McIntyre. Converted from paper to digital format by Betty Briggs.
Page 72
A letter to the Herald this week from William Potts, who is serving in the Marines in the Pacific, says that he noticed in the Ripley High School news some time ago that he had been killed in action, and he wanted the Herald to inform the students that such a report is false, and that he is still going strong against the Japs. (Friday, Jan 12, 1945) [Based on a report of some soldier that knew William Potts, his family was surprised to learn of a report by this person that Bill had been killed based on the severity of the wounds he had seen . William (Bill) had not told his family that he had been injured so not to alarm them and had not planned to notify them only after he had recovered. This false report lead to much grief for the family until Bill made contact after learning of the rumor.
Page 94
William E. Potts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Potts, who has served with the Fifth Division of Marines, was wounded and is now back at a hospital on Guam, and later is expected to be brought to a hospital in Hawaii. He went overseas in August 1944. He entered the service in Jan 1943. He graduated from the Ripley High School with the Class of 1943.
Submitted by his nephew, Dave Potts.
The following is from the Jackson Herald World War II Military Service News from the years 1943, 1944 and 1945. Transcribed and annotated by Betty Kessell McIntyre. Converted from paper to digital format by Betty Briggs.
Page 72
A letter to the Herald this week from William Potts, who is serving in the Marines in the Pacific, says that he noticed in the Ripley High School news some time ago that he had been killed in action, and he wanted the Herald to inform the students that such a report is false, and that he is still going strong against the Japs. (Friday, Jan 12, 1945) [Based on a report of some soldier that knew William Potts, his family was surprised to learn of a report by this person that Bill had been killed based on the severity of the wounds he had seen . William (Bill) had not told his family that he had been injured so not to alarm them and had not planned to notify them only after he had recovered. This false report lead to much grief for the family until Bill made contact after learning of the rumor.
Page 94
William E. Potts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Potts, who has served with the Fifth Division of Marines, was wounded and is now back at a hospital on Guam, and later is expected to be brought to a hospital in Hawaii. He went overseas in August 1944. He entered the service in Jan 1943. He graduated from the Ripley High School with the Class of 1943.
Submitted by his nephew, Dave Potts.