James Richard Donovan

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number O-18062

Born

February 17, 1919
in Peoria, IL

Parents

Leo Francis Donovan
Nellie Catherine (Foohey) Donovan

School

Spalding Institute (1937)
University of Illinois, Urbana (ex-1941)

Pre-War Employment

Sports writer
Peoria Journal-Transcript

Entered Service

March 31, 1941 (enlisted)
December 2, 1942 (commissioned)

Joined First Battalion

September 28, 1943
from HQ/1/25th Marines

Left First Battalion

June 15, 1944
Wounded and evacuated from Saipan

Left Service

June 18, 1944
Died of wounds

Home Address and Next of Kin

1713 Mount Perry Avenue, Peoria, IL – address of wife, Mrs. Helen Murray Donovan (married May 1, 1943)

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Enlisted Service
Boot camp at MCRD San Diego with Second Recruit Battalion. Outposted to Puget Sound Navy Yard for duty with Marine Barracks detachment and Guard Company. Served as detachment clerk. In spring 1942, assigned to Naval Radio Station, Bainbridge Island, as clerk for post commander. Advanced in rank to corporal.

In late summer 1942, entered Officer Candidates School (Company F/13th Candidates Class) at Quantico, Virginia.

Commissioned Service
Appointed second lieutenant, USMCR, 2 December 1942. Graduated from Reserve Officers’ Class in early 1943 and assigned duty with A/1/23rd Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Transferred to HQ/1/25th Marines on 30 April 1943, appointed battalion adjutant (Bn-1) and commanding officer of HQ Company.

Joined Dog Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines on 28 September 1943. Appointed platoon leader, 1st Heavy MG Platoon.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: D/1/24th Marines, 1st MG Platoon
Rank: First Lieutenant
MOS: 1542 (Platoon Leader)

Campaign Narrative

Following this campaign:
March 1, 1944 – transferred to battalion HQ company
March 7, 1944 – transferred to A/1/24th Marines, MG platoon leader
May 1944 – transferred to HQ company, assistant 81mm mortar platoon leader

Saipan

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines, 81mm platoon
Rank: First Lieutenant
MOS: 1542 (Platoon Leader) – assistant to 1Lt. Waldo C. Lincoln, Jr.
Important Events:
June 15, 1944 – wounded in action (gunshot, left abdomen); evacuated to USS Pierce
June 18, 1944 – died of wounds aboard USS Pierce. Buried at sea (16°4’N, 148°17’E)

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Saipan (June 15, 1944)

Citation
—

The Marine lieutenants were no joke. Those people were special to us on the front lines. I never saw one hesitate to step out and lead under any conditions. They invariably got killed or were wounded too bad to fight. When we got a new one we tried to keep him alive.

I remember one in particular, his name was Donovan. Some of us had been in battle enough to know some things you don't do, such as act like an officer. We had cautioned him, "you are no good to us dead." [Slightly] inland from the beach, somebody said, "Look at Donovan!" There he was, several yards out front, crouching behind a palm tree no more than six inches in diameter with a map spread out in front of him. Oh hell, we'd better cover him quick.

The first squad moved forward in line with him; however, we were not quick enough. A Jap sniper already had him in his sights. I stooped behind him just as a bullet hit him in the side, and he went limp. I remember asking, “Where are you hit?” He said, “I don’t know, but I can’t feel my legs.” I pulled his jacket up and saw a bullet hole in his side just under his ribcage with a small blister of gut bubbling out. Our corpsman arrived, and I had to move on.