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Kenneth Marion Carpenter

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 537054
Born

July 9, 1926
in Arp, Texas

Parents

Marion Carpenter
Olive Lillie (Parker) Carpenter (d. 1936)

School

Abilene High School

Pre-War Employment

Delivery boy
Western Union

Entered Service

October 20, 1943
at El Paso, Texas

Time with First Battalion

Joined January 7, 1944 from MCB San Diego
Transferred June 13, 1945 to Headquarters, FMF Pacific

Left Service

December 21, 1945
Discharged

Home Address and Next of Kin

818 South 7th Street – Mr. Marion Carpenter

Campaigns
Before joining battalion

Enlisted at El Paso, Texas on October 20, 1943.
Boot camp at MCRD San Diego.
Transferred to Company B, First Battalion, 24th Marines on January 7, 1944

Roi-Namur

Outfit: Company B
Rank: Private
MOS: 745 (Rifleman)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: Company B
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 675 (Messenger)
Important Events:
Wounded June 17, 1944 (shell fragment, thigh)
Evacuated to US Naval Hospital Aiea Heights via unknown transport

Campaign Narrative

Iwo Jima

Outfit: Company B
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 745 (Rifleman)
Important Events:
Member of rear echelon stationed at Camp Maui. Did not participate in combat.

After leaving battalion

Transferred June 13, 1945 to Headquarters, FMF Pacific, for guard duty.
Rejoined battalion October 2, 1945 for final transit to United States.
Honorably discharged December 21, 1945.

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Saipan

Date/Citation
June 17, 1944

Service Stories

Please share a story if you knew this Marine.

Post-War Life

Married Clarah Jewell (Nichols) Carpenter on July 20, 1946; three sons, Kenneth Jr., David, and Lynn.

Kenneth died on July 22, 2003, and is buried in Cathedral of the Pines Cemetery, Tyler, Texas
Gallery

2 thoughts on “Kenneth M. Carpenter”

  1. I am currently editing the memoirs of PFC Kenneth Marion Carpenter for publication in Chronicles of Smith County, Texas. He had two versions that we are merging, and they cover from leaving Abilene, Texas, to training in California and Hawaii, to the battle at Roi-Namur, then back to Hawaii and his introduction to Gunny (Henry) Linker, back to the South Pacific at Saipan. He served under Lt. William A. Eddy Jr and Capt. Milton G. Cokin. He includes Kilroy and a tank named King Kong. Carpenter was wounded on Saipan and spent the rest of the war recovering back at Hawaii. He’s buried here in Tyler, Texas. This journal issue should come out sometime around Christmas. I’d love to hear of any other members of Baker Company and especially any photos from the company on Roi-Namur or Saipan.

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