HELP NEEDED! Uncle in WW2 2nd Marine Division - History

[wwnuttycollector]

Hello Everyone

 

I have been researching my 80 year old Dad's uncle, a SGT in the 2nd Marine Division in WW2

 

My uncle (great uncle) was in the Corp at the start of the war, and survived the war

 

Unfortunately, he never uttered a word to anyone in the family about his service after the war

 

He passed in 2001, and I have not been able to find anything on my own

 

As I said, my Dad is 80 years old - I would love to find out more about our uncle

 

PLEASE HELP! I have a photo of him in uniform after his discharge, along with his full name & hometown

 

PM if you can help me out

 

Thanks!

[Blacksmith]

I mis-read your post the first time, and thought you were saying the WWII Marine was 80. That would have made him 5 or 6 when he was in the Pacific. I mean Marines are studs, but cmon.

 

So, based just on the pic, he has three campaign stars on his A-P ribbon, and one on the PUC - which means he participated in the action that earned the unit commendation.

 

If he was indeed early war, those campaigns could include Guadalcanal or Tarawa - if he didnt get to theater until later, it would be Saipan-Tinian and Okinawa.

 

Muster rolls would answer this.

 

Awesome pic - thank you.

[Blacksmith]

Sorry, should add that he is wearing both an Honorable Discharge diamond and WWII Victory Medal, so this photo would have been taken after he separated - 1946 or later

[wwnuttycollector]

Thanks Blacksmith!

 

The photo shown was part of a family portrait taken in 1945 of my uncle (USMC, shown), another uncle (8th AAC Flying Fortress radio/gunner, shot down twice, POW 1943-45), an aunt (USA Nurse, Philippines), and an uncle who enlisted in 1945 @ age 17.

 

My great-grandmother went t mass every day through the end of the war - it worked! They all survived the war

[Blacksmith]

You are quite welcome Sir.

 

Are the other family members in uniform in the photo?

[mes]

Nice photo Enlisted 1-19-42 2nd military police company 2nd marine division overseas in time for Guadalcanal, Tarawa,Saipan and Tinian. At some point get his service records to confirm the three battle stars

[wwnuttycollector]

You are quite welcome Sir.

 

Are the other family members in uniform in the photo?

 

[Blacksmith]

Wow, what a great photo.

 

Thank you for posting it.

 

 

[ww2marine]

great pics! your great uncle would have seen some hard fighting in the Pacific

[joeclown]

now there is a picture and a family to be proud of.

[wwnuttycollector]

Thanks for all the kind words! I had the great fortune of having a great-grandma that lived into her mid 90's , and my ENTIRE family - aunts, uncles, grandparents & my grand parents brothers, sisters & families gathered at my great-grandma's house every Christmas, Easter & Thanksgiving until her death.

 

I was truly fortunate to have such a large, close-nit family until well into my 20's

 

I miss them all (well, most of them) VERY much - the world is a much different without their daily influence!