Ottis Oliver Boxx
| NAME: Ottis Oliver Boxx | NICKNAME: — | SERVICE NUMBER: 444015 | |||||
| HOME OF RECORD: 4615 Sunderland Road, Jacksonville, FL | NEXT OF KIN: Parents, William & Edith Boxx | ||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH: 4/28/1922 | SERVICE DATES: 8/25/1942 – 3/1/1945 | DATE OF DEATH: 3/1/1945 | |||||
| CAMPAIGN | UNIT | MOS | RATE | RESULT | |||
| Roi-Namur | D/1/24 | 605 | PFC | ||||
| Saipan | C/1/24 | 504 | PFC | ||||
| Tinian | C/1/24 | 504 | PFC | WIA | |||
| Iwo Jima | C/1/24 | 600 | Corporal | KIA | |||
| INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS: Purple Heart with Gold Star | LAST KNOWN RANK: Corporal | ||||||
Ottis Oliver Boxx was born in Clay County, Florida, on 28 April 1922. His parents, Edith and William Francis “Frank” Boxx, were both Clay County natives, and raised their family in William’s hometown –Doctors Inlet, a tiny community south of Jacksonville. The Boxxes owned several tracts of land near Doctors Inlet; William supported the family through farming and carpentry work, while the kids – Ottis, Vera (born 1925) and Olive (born 1927) played along the shores of Doctors Lake, helped Edith keep house, and attended the local schools.
In the late 1930s, Frank took a construction job and moved the family to Jacksonville Beach. Ottis entered Duncan U. Fletcher High School in nearby Neptune Beach, and in 1937 tried out for the school’s inaugural football team. Although only in eighth grade, he made the squad and would be a “Senator” for the rest of his time at Fletcher High. In 1939, his sophomore year, Ottis joined the varsity squad. He played fullback and halfback, earning a reputation as a “hard-driving line plunger” adept at defense and breakaway touchdowns.
Ottis only added to his reputation during his senior year. “Boxx can do most things in football well,” said a contemporary paper. “This lad deserves more praise than he has ever received.” He ended his season with a game-winning score in front of two thousand football fans at Schuler Field.1 Football was not his only interest; Ottis also served as the vice president of his class.
By the time Ottis graduated in 1942, the United States was at war. He worked for a while at Lovett’s Grocery Store, but like many young men he aspired to join the service – particularly the Air Corps. Both of his parents were now working at Naval Air Station Jacksonville; Ottis likely watched military aircraft flying over Doctors Lake as a boy.2 Edith disapproved, saying the Air Corps was too dangerous. Instead, Ottis joined the Marine Corps.
“He was a handsome boy, but not self-centered,” said one family member. “He was sort of shy, but he wanted to achieve. He would not have selected the Marine Corps if he wasn’t an achiever.”3
Private Boxx might have hoped to work his way into Marine aviation – the Naval Air Station trained Marine pilots and aircrew – but it was not to be. After completing boot camp, he was assigned to the First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River, North Carolina. As a member of Company D, Boxx learned to operate a heavy machine gun. In 1943, his battalion transferred to Camp Pendleton, California and was re-designated as the First Battalion, 24th Marines. Boxx continued to train hard; he may have bonded with over football with his platoon leader, Lieutenant Alexander “Saint” Santilli, a gridiron star from Fordham University. In July, he was promoted to Private First Class.
Ottis first saw combat in February 1944, at the battle of Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands. The following month, his company disbanded; Santilli’s Third Platoon was assigned en masse to Charlie Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines. After an additional period of rest and training at Camp Maui in the territory of Hawaii, Boxx went on to fight in the Mariana Islands – the battles of Saipan and Tinian.
In training, Ottis was designated as an ammunition carrier for his squad. He carried heavy boxes of belted rounds – up to 500 at a time – for a .30 caliber Browning machine gun. However, once in combat, he was expected to take over any role at a moment’s notice, from assistant gunner to squad leader. Few details of his experiences in the Mariana Islands are currently known. He may have witnessed the death of Lieutenant Santilli on 8 July 1944, and was himself wounded in action on 24 July 1944 during the amphibious assault on Tinian. Fortunately, he was not badly hurt and was back with his company within a few days. He performed his duties well enough to merit a promotion to corporal, and was recommended for the Bronze Star Medal, although the decoration was apparently never awarded.
By early 1945, Ottis Boxx was rated as a machine gun squad leader and was probably in charge of a team of five other Marines for the landing on Iwo Jima. He struggled through the first several days of the campaign alongside his buddies Corporal Glenn Buzzard and Corporal Jack Coutts, with whom he’d served since the days back at New River. On 26 February, Boxx and Coutts had their picture taken by a Marine Corps photographer as they cleaned their weapon – “for the first time since D-Day,” ran the caption.
Five days later, Charlie Company attacked Iwo Jima’s “Meat Grinder.” As the name implied, this hellish area had a reputation for chewing men up – and on 1 March 1945, Ottis Boxx and his buddies were in the hopper. Glenn Buzzard recalled taking cover in a shell hole with a handful of other Marines, including Boxx and Coutts. Boxx, he recalled, was in position behind the machine gun while Coutts ventured out to try and rescue a wounded man lying several yards away.
For his trouble Coutts was hit in the leg; he would eventually lose the limb. Buzzard, Boxx and others tried to throw him a line made of knotted ammunition belts but missed on their first throw. The next moment, a Japanese mortar shell landed smack in their shell hole. Glenn Buzzard was knocked out by the blast; he came to, badly concussed and deafened, and saw a horrible sight.
“Ottis Boxx from Florida was my gunner. All that was left of his head was his lower jaw. It was just settin’ there,” he recalled. “Never moved. Just settin’ there. Near as I can remember, I was the only one came out of there alive.”4
Five days later, on 6 March 1945, Ottis Boxx was buried in Fourth Marine Division Cemetery (Plot 1, Row 25, Grave 1129). News of his death soon reached Jacksonville. “Edith didn’t believe that he was actually dead,” said his cousin, Shirley Boxx Sanders. “He was my mother’s favorite,” recalled sister Vera. “She had a drawer full of his letters. She never got over his death.” Edith’s denial lasted for many years; she even sought the advice of psychics who told her Ottis was still alive but a prisoner or war.5
Ottis’ remains were returned to Jacksonville in 1947, and he was buried with full military honors in Peoria Cemetery.
- Johnny Woodhouse, “Fletcher grad died a hero on Iwo Jima,” The Beaches Leader, 20 October 2006. Available online; accessed 6 April 2021.
- Frank and Edith moved their family out of Jackson Beach when they started at the Naval Air Station. Rather than transfer schools, Ottis took a city bus across Jacksonville to Fletcher High every day.
- Woodhouse, “Fletcher grad.”
- Glenn Buzzard in Larry Smith, Iwo Jima (New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2008), 88.
- Woodhouse, “Fletcher grad.”
Ottis was my fathers cousin and has always been a hero in my eyes. Thank you cousin for your ultimate sacrifice.
Hi Sue,
Thank you for your comment. Have you ever been in touch with Glenn Buzzard or “Iron Mike” Mervosh? They both served with and remembered Ottis in their memoirs.
I’ve just finished with graduate school and am hoping soon to add more about Ottis and his experiences on Iwo Jima–so stay tuned.
Best,
Geoffrey
Can tell me anything if my uncle Ottis Box
Thank you Geoffrey. Ottis is my uncle. My mother is his sister, Vera V. Boxx Hill. Mom and her parents didn’t talk much about him. I know a few things about him but would love to hear anything from anyone that has any info. Thanks!
My mother dated him in high school and had his High School letter sweater. She also attended his funeral but cannot remember where he is buried. She remembers he was from middleburg originally. My mom is 97 – Lucy Strickland
Melissa,
Thank you so much for the information shared. Ottis is my uncle, my mother’s only brother. Any other info would be great. Thank you.
Hi Sandra, this is your cousin Phyllis. Ottis is being honored by a street sign project that was driven by a lovely gentleman named Lenny. I can send you a picture of the sign if you contact me at phylliscrubaugh@yahoo.com It was placed right across from Fletcher High where Ottis attended and played football in Jax Beach.
Sandra, My mom said they also sent a bracelet back that his parents gave to her. She said she would love to talk with you. 904-471-7949
I spoke to Ms Lucy a few days ago. She was a delight! Ottis is my Uncle. My name is Phyllis (landess) Crubaugh. I am the youngest child of Oveda Boxx who is the youngest sister of Ottis. I am so excited that the signs went up! Most fitting that we honor our beloved dead in such a manner.
Sue,
Jacksonville Beach wants to do a memorial on Ottis but they need the written permission of a family member. Lenny’s telephone # is 904-662-0062. Could you text him a note giving approval?
Ottis is my great great uncle, my great grandmothers brother. I am proud to have him as my uncle. And if anyone has some information on him, reply
He is my Grandmother’s (Vera Boxx (Hill)) brother and as I remember being told, which could be way off the truth was… He jumped on a grenade in a foxhole covering the grenade with his chest, to protect I believe it was 6 or so other men in the fox hole in which he received two Purple Hearts. I also would love more information on him if I could find some. I will continue looking and post anything I find, good luck and thank you all for the work that you are doing.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for writing – I’m glad you found this page!
Your family’s recollection is close to the truth. Corporal Boxx was in a shell hole with several other men from his platoon when it was hit by a mortar. Poor Ottis took the brunt of the explosion, and several other men in the shell hole were killed and wounded as well.
Glenn Buzzard was present in the shell hole, and re-told the story in Gail Chatfield’s “By Dammit, We’re Marines.” I highly recommend this book, as well as Larry Smith’s “Iwo Jima,” as both contain interviews with members of Ottis’ platoon. Unfortunately, Mr. Buzzard and “Iron Mike” Mervosh both passed away in recent months.
Ottis was first wounded during the landing on Tinian, 24 July 1944; it was not a serious injury and he was back in action four days later. This was his first Purple Heart. The second (a gold star in lieu of a second medal) was awarded for Iwo Jima.
Remembering him today, on the 73rd anniversary of his death.
Cheers,
Geoffrey
My mother dated him in high school and had his High School letter sweater. She also attended his funeral but cannot remember where he is buried. She remembers he was from middleburg originally. My mom is 97 – Lucy Strickland
Ottis Boxx was my mother’s brother. She wouldn’t talk much about him. My grandparents had a hard time talking about him. The marines sent back his marine ring and the three American pennies found in his pocket. I have those. Any information as to his personality, likes, dislikes that you may know from your dear mother would be appreciated.
Sandra Hill (daughter of his sister Vera Boxx Hill)
Sandra,
Jacksonville Beach wants to do a memorial on Ottis but they need the written permission of a family member. Lenny’s telephone # is 904-662-0062. Could you text him a note giving approval?
I am so sorry I didn’t see this response. I would love so much to meet you or your mom if she is still with us. My number is 904-684-0122.
Ottis Boxx is my Uncle. His baby sister Olive Oveda is my mother. My Uncle Ottis’ memory was shared by my mother, and her stories of him and his service prompted other family members to enlist and serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. My brother Ed served (you would have to ask him for his reasons) in the Corps. My youngest son Daniel served in the Corps during the Iraq War. He served in Ramadi Iraq and earned a Bronze Star. Seems a family tradition. Thank you for providing a space to Honor our Marines!
I’m Vera’s granddaughter 😊
I am the Beaches Veterans Memorial Park Historian here in Atlantic Beach, FL. I am working on a Fallen Wartime Veterans Street Sign Project that I have already successfully got accepted by the City of Atlantic Beach. I am working with the City of Jacksonville Beach to recognize those veterans for their city who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I am in the process of submitting nominations for the initial street signs and one who I have already submitted in CPL. Ottis O. Boxx! I would love to learn much more about Ottis so when I go in front of the Jacksonville Beach City Council to pitch this program and my nominees. Thanks to all and thanks much to Geoff for his work on the history of theses great veterans!!
Thanks,
Lenny Jevic
oscmj@comcast.net