Thrifter_01 Posted July 9, 2022 Share #1 Posted July 9, 2022 Found locally at an estate sale, I was told that this group was up for sale since there were no living relatives of the family, and the house itself was being cleared out to be put up for sale on the market. Am posting it here for posterity sake and so this Marine can be remembered. Portrait given to his brother and signed by himself Cpl. Weyman W. Whitfield was born on December 24th, 1924 in Houston, Texas. His military career started when he enlisted to the USMCR in December 1942, and was sent to the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, and trained with the 9th Recruit Battalion from January to April of 1943. In April he was transferred to Camp Elliot to the Tank Battalion Training Center and trained from April to July, 1943. In July, he was assigned to Company A of the 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division and was stationed in Camp Pendleton from July to December. In January 1944, he was transferred to Company C of the same battalion. On the 13th, he along with 225 others of the 4th tank battalion departed on the USS Gunston Hall for the Battle of Roi-Numar where his first engagement against the Japanese was. He would go on to fight in both of the Battle of Saipan, where I believe the tank he served with, "Camptown", was engaged in the massive tank battle that took place, and Tinian, both times imbedded with landing craft toward the island. His final deployment would take him to the black sands of Iwo Jima, where he fought from February 19 to the 26. On the 26th, the tank he served with had hit a mine and was destroyed, killing Cpl. Whitfield and cutting his 21 years of life short. I do not know what happened between the years, but his body was sent back to the states, and was interred on January 10, 1949 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, where he has rested since. Pictures of the serviceman with family. Portraits are signed by himself to family Burial Fag Mounted medals, including the engraved Purple Heart, Bronze Star with the 'V' device, and Presidential Unit Citation ribbon. Certificates given to the family, including the Purple Heart certificate dated to April 12th, 1945 4th Marine Division book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted July 9, 2022 Share #2 Posted July 9, 2022 Incredible grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrifter_01 Posted July 9, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted July 9, 2022 Thank you, it's always a good day finding something from my home state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted July 9, 2022 Share #4 Posted July 9, 2022 Excellent KIA Heart group! Congratulations as they are hard to find with all the posthumous documents and the flag. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted July 9, 2022 Share #5 Posted July 9, 2022 Is the Bronze Star the thicker USN/USMC version? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrifter_01 Posted July 9, 2022 Author Share #6 Posted July 9, 2022 37 minutes ago, Kurt Barickman said: Is the Bronze Star the thicker USN/USMC version? Kurt I can't quiet tell, since I don't have another one to compare it to. But I do have the original case, and here is a closer image of the medal itself. The medal is a slot brooch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted July 10, 2022 Share #7 Posted July 10, 2022 Sounds correct? Can you post a shot of the broach? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted July 10, 2022 Share #8 Posted July 10, 2022 R.I.P. Corporal Whitfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrifter_01 Posted July 12, 2022 Author Share #9 Posted July 12, 2022 On 7/9/2022 at 7:05 PM, Kurt Barickman said: Sounds correct? Can you post a shot of the broach? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted July 12, 2022 Share #10 Posted July 12, 2022 Not USN/ USMC but many are not. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 20, 2022 Share #11 Posted July 20, 2022 Beautiful group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted July 20, 2022 Share #12 Posted July 20, 2022 Indeed a great grouping to another brave Marine who fought in hell and now rests in eternal peace. Thanks for sharing this remarkably complete grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrifter_01 Posted July 20, 2022 Author Share #13 Posted July 20, 2022 Thank ya'll for the comments. As well, thanks to a fellow forum member, I was sent his casualty card that I will be posting here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromthepastcollections Posted August 1, 2022 Share #14 Posted August 1, 2022 Incredible group! I have one to a Major Clyde Preston Guy from Bravo Co. 1st Tank Battalion and also a distant relative of mine Henry L Richey of Alpha Co. 1st Tank Battalion so I wonder if at any point they ever crossed paths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Bushey Posted August 5, 2022 Share #15 Posted August 5, 2022 I had the honor of serving on the LAPD with Ben Stauffer who was also a member of “C” of the 4th Tank Ann, also served Saipan, Roi Numar and Iwo. Ben, who passed a number of years ago was a great Marine and dear friend who most certainly was acquainted with Cpl Whitfield. Thank goodness for these wonderful men. Semper Fi Wayman & Ben… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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