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.
Note: Private Tanner was awarded a posthumous Bronze Star, presumably for actions on this date – however, a citation has not yet been located.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Campaign
Tinian
Tinian (August 1, 1944)
Citation
Citation needed
Service Stories
“A fire group of Company A now reached a knife-edge ridge extending from the cliffs on the left boundary to the sea on the right. Only one man could cross at a time. The enemy allowed several of the group to cross, then opened fire… from an emplacement in the cliff at the left. One BARman was killed. The remainder of the squad rushed over the ridge through the fire and attacked the emplacement. One group tried to flank the position, and another BARman was killed. Numerous others were wounded…. It was now so dark visiblity was reduced to a matter of 2 or 3 feet. By great daring, the wounded were rescued but the 2 dead Marines could not be reached. Worst of all, their BARs and ammunition could not be recovered…. [In the morning] over 20 Japs were killed, their machine guns captured…. Our own dead from the previous night’s encounter recovered and our own weapons recaptured.”
– LtCol. Otto Lessing, report on Tinan operation, 1-2 August 1944.
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.
