Edward John Horan

"Butch"

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 459742

Born

January 11, 1913
in Shenandoah, PA

Parents

William Horan (d. 1929)
Eva (Didwall) Horan

School

Details unknown

Pre-War Employment

Foundry worker

Entered Service

September 16, 1942
at Springfield, MA

Joined First Battalion

November 15, 1942
from 10th Separate Recruit Battalion

Left First Battalion

February 20, 1945
Killed in action at Iwo Jima

Left Service

February 20, 1945
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

309 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah, PA – home of mother, Mrs. Eva Horan

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Boot camp at Parris Island with Fourth and Fifth Recruit Battalions; completed training with Ninth Separate Recruit Battalion at New River, NC.

Outposted to Company A, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on 15 November 1942.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: PFC
MOS: 746 (BARman)
Important Events:
February 1, 1944 – wounded in action (laceration scalp); hit on helmet by debris from exploding blockhouse while in landing craft. Evacuated.

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 653 (Squad Leader)
Important Events:
June 22, 1944 – awarded Silver Star Medal for actions on this date.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 22 June 1944. Quickly organizing the right flank of his company after it had been ambushed by hostile forces, Corporal Horan succeeded in holding off the enemy attack until his company could successfully reorganize and completely annihilate the enemy troops. By his inspiring leadership and initiative, Corporal Horan contributed essentially to the success of our forces on this vital island and his zealous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

July 18, 1944 – promoted to Sergeant.

Campaign Narrative

Tinian

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Sergeant
MOS: 653 (Squad Leader)

Campaign Narrative

Iwo Jima

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Sergeant
MOS: 737 (Squad Leader)
Important Events:
February 20, 1945 – killed in action (shrapnel, neck); exact circumstances unknown.

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Silver Star
Purple Heart

Campaign
Saipan (June 22, 1944)
Iwo Jima (Feb. 20, 1944)

Citation
See above

Service Stories

Please share a story if you knew this Marine.

We had this fellow, Horan. When we landed in the Marshalls and that blockhouse blew, we had concrete and rebar coming down into the boat. We had three lines, one against each side, one in the middle, and Horan was the first one in the middle. He got hit by a rock, and it was so bad it dented his helmet – he was practically bald headed, and he took that helmet off and blood was running down into his face.

Now, we're landing on this hostile beach, there's gunfire, and our corpsman Ski says to Horan, "You can't go in" – like it's the middle of Broadway at noon! Horan says, "Why not?" "Well, you're bleeding." "Hell, I ain't bleeding that bad!" They had this whole conversation while everybody's standing in the boat waiting to get the hell out! It was really funny.