John Patrick Offer
"Pat"
US Navy Reserve | Service Number 606 27 66
March 17, 1922
in Boston, MA
George Eugene Offer
Teresa (Shreenan) Offer
Lawrence High School
Tilton Academy
Northeastern University (ex-1944)
College student
January 24, 1942
at Boston, MA
July 3, 1943
from Field Medical School, Camp Elliott
July 29, 1944
Killed in action at Tinian
July 29, 1944
Killed in action
157 Haverhill Street, Lawrence, MA – home of parents, George & Teresa Offer
Service & Campaigns
Boot camp at Naval Training Station Newport, Rhode Island
To Hospital Corps School, Brooklyn, NY on 14 March 1942. Advanced to HA2c; assigned to Naval Hospital Chelsea, MA, for duty on 1 May 1942.
Aboard USAT Munargo (AP-20) as of 30 October 1942. Sailed from New York to Trinidad, Brazil, and San Francisco, 30 December 1942 – 18 March 1943. Sailed from California to Noumea and returned, May – June 1943.
Transferred to Medical Field Service School, TC Camp Elliott, on 15 June 1943. Assigned to First Battalion, 24th Marines at Camp Pendleton on 7 July 1943.
Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines (assigned Charlie Co.)
Rank: Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class
MOS: Corpsman
Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines (assigned Charlie Co.)
Rank: Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class
MOS: Corpsman
Important Events:
Awarded Bronze Star Medal for this campaign.
For heroic service as a company aid man attached to the First Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, from 15 June to 9 July 1944. Calm and efficient under extremely hazardous conditions, OFfer repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire in order to administer first aid to the wounded, consistently carrying out his vital duties with expert professional skill. By his resolute devotion to duty and selfless efforts on behalf of others, he was a constant inspiration to his comrades, and his gallant conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines (assigned Charlie Co.)
Rank: Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class
MOS: Corpsman
Important Events:
July 29, 1944 – killed in action (gunshot, neck) while treating a wounded Marine.
Note: Offer was recommended for the Silver Star Medal for this action, but the decoration was never approved.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Campaign
Saipan (campaign)
Tinian (July 29, 1944)
Citation
See above
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Service Stories
Please share a story if you knew this Marine.
He had been with this organization a long time, and his fine qualities and good judgment won him a multitude of friends. His work on Saipan and Tinian continually displayed his coolness, courage, and devotion to his duty. He disregarded his own safety when it came to treating a wounded man in the field.
There are no letters, awards, or medals that will compensate for the sacrifice your son made. I hope this letter will explain the details and ease your mind somewhat.
Our battalion landed on the northwest coast of Tinian Island July 24. We had moved south along the coast and just before noon July 29th we were at the northern edge of Tinian Town. The Japanese had some heavy positions that offered good cover for their snipers. Several men were killed or wounded at this point, and your son with utter disregard for his safety was treating a wounded comrade when a Japanese sniper shot and killed him. His death was a great loss to the rifle platoon to which he had been attached so long.
John was buried on July 30, 1944 with full military honors in the Marine cemetery on the northwest coast of Tinian Island. The grave is number 159.
My renewed sympathy goes with this letter and I hope you will find a small measure of comfort in it. If there are any other details you would like to have, I will be very willing to furnish them if I can.
