Sands of Iwo Jima USMC veteran Bible - Bruce F. Shearer

[American Heritage]

Got this USMC Bible belonging to rifleman (521) Bruce F. Shearer of C co., 6th Marines, 1st MarDiv. A quick search of his name produced his obituary and the interesting fact that he appeared in uniform in the Sands of Iwo Jima movie!

 

Bruce Shearer, 86, of KCK, passed away Friday, November 28th at home. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 2nd at Chapel Hill – Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112. Friends may call from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment with Honors will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or the City Union Mission.
Bruce was born October 9, 1928 in Oakhill, Kansas to Everett and Tressa Shearer. After leaving school, Bruce served in the Marines from 1947-50 and received the Good Conduct Medal and also appeared in uniform in the film "Sands of Iwo Jima" with John Wayne and Forest Tucker. He married the love of his life, Joyce Bitter, in February of 1951 and they enjoyed 62 years of marriage before she passed in 2013. Bruce worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 41 years and was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Workers. He was an avid sports fan, especially football, baseball and golf. Bruce was also an accomplished wood craftsman, often refinishing and building pieces for family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joyce Shearer; his son, Michael Shearer; and his siblings, Leonard "Babe" Shearer, and Phyllis Lamphear.
Bruce is survived by his sons, David B. Shearer and his wife Maniak, and Jeffrey W. Shearer and his wife Joan; grandchildren, Jason Shearer, Jared Shearer, Chad Shearer, Angelique Shearer, Amy Diliberto, Alexander Shearer, and Meg Shearer; great-grandchildren, Courtney Shearer, Avery Diliberto, Nicole Joy Diliberto, Peyton Brown, and Chloe Ann Bromell; his brother, Everett Shearer, Jr. and his wife Vivian; as well as other friends and family.

 

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Bruce-Shearer&lc=4019&pid=173318735&mid=6215976

 

[American Heritage]

2

[ViewfinderGyrene]

Wow, congrats, great find!

 

I've seen other material from extras in the film. A great footlocker group from a vet who was a veteran of the campaign and an extra in the film was split up early last year...makes you wonder how many who were extras were vets as well...

[TLeo]

You may already know this but I have talked to some who didn't. Three of the flag raisers were in the movie as well. Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon were shown circled around John Wayne just before his character was killed.

[Chap15]

Nice

[Bugme]

Incredible find and history.

[suwanneetrader]

I've got a Bible just like that. It was my Dads on Guam and Iwo Jima. Richard