James Bowlin Cochran

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 842981

Born

August 1, 1924
in Dallas, TX

Parents

William Rhea Cochran
Dorothy (Shaw) Cochran

School

North Dallas High School (1941)
Southern Methodist University (1948)

Pre-War Employment

College student

Entered Service

April 13, 1943
at Dallas, TX

Joined First Battalion

August 25, 1943
from Camp Elliott, California

Left First Battalion

October 11, 1944
to H&S Company, 24th Marines

Left Service

[date unknown], 1945
Discharged

Home Address and Next of Kin

7620 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, TX – home of mother, Mrs. Dorothy S. Cochran

Campaigns

Roi-Namur

Outfit: B/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 604 (Machine Gunner)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: B/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 604 (Machine Gunner)
Important Events:
June 17, 1944 – wounded in action (gunshot, left leg)
Evacuated to USNH #10, Aiea Heights, Hawaii

Campaign Narrative

After leaving battalion

Outfit: Headquarters and Service Company, 24th Marines (R-2 Section)
Rank: PFC
MOS: 152 (Photographer)

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Saipan

Citation
For wounds in action

Service Stories

Please share a story if you knew this Marine.

James died on July 16, 2012 and is buried in Cochran Chapel Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

Gallery

Jimmie Cochran at North Dallas High School, 1941.

Cochran had just started his second year at SMU when he signed up for Selective Service.

Two views about a year apart: as a SMU sophomore, and a Marine PFC at Camp Pendleton.

Cochran with members of the R-2 (intelligence) section on Iwo Jima.

A very close call for Cochran and company. The Fort Worth Star Telegram, 3 December 1945.

Cochran returned to SMU and earned his degree in electrical engineering in 1948.

Seeing Iwo with James Cochran

As a photographer assigned to the 24th Marines intelligence section, PFC Cochran carried a camera along with his carbine on Iwo Jima. Many of his photographs are now in the National Archives.

View Gallery