Earle David Tanner
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 548328
September 25, 1926
in Baltimore, MD
Leon Douglas Tanner
Virginia Margaret (Snyder) Tanner
Boys Occupational School #93
Student
November 26, 1943
at Baltimore, MD
July 26, 1944
from Casual Co., 2nd Marine Division
August 1, 1944
Killed in action at Tinian
August 1, 1944
Killed in action
5508 Mattfeldt Avenue, Baltimore, MD – home of mother, Mrs. Virginia Tanner
Service & Campaigns
Boot camp at MCRD Parris Island.
To 51st Replacement Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC; transferred to Headquarters, Replacement Battalion, Transient Center VAC, Hawaii.
To Casual Company, Second Marine Division, 17 July 1944. Temporarily attached to First Battalion, 24th Marines, 26 July 1944.
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private
MOS: 604 (Machine Gunner)
Important Events:
July 26, 1944 – joined from Casual Company, Second Marine Division
August 1, 1944 – killed in action (gunshot, head) just before nightfall while attacking a Japanese strongpoint. Awarded Bronze Star Medal for actions on this date.
When enemy soldiers ambushed his company in a heavily wooded area along the beaches, Pvt. Tanner, utterly disregarding danger to himself from heavy hostile fire, moved to a position from which he could cover the evacuation of the wounded by fire from his rifle until wounded by a Japanese bullet. By his technical skill and courage, Pvt. Tanner contributed to the success of a vital mission.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Campaign
Tinian (August 1, 1944)
Tinian (August 1, 1944)
Citation
See above
The following day the body recovery team secured our comrades killed during yesterday’s clash.... Both Marines had been placed on canvas litters and loaded aboard a small utility trailer drawn by a jeep. The bodies were covered by ponchos which served as a shroud. The only thing visible was their combat boots protruding from the cover.
