Matthew Garner

Marine Corps Regular | Service Number 418728

Born

Ferbuary 23, 1924
in Hamilton, MS

Parents

William Rufus Garner
Frances Kate (Harris) Garner

School

Details unknown

Pre-War Employment

Civilian Conservation Corps
Camp VanHorn, Columbus, GA

Entered Service

July 14, 1942
at Macon, GA

Joined First Battalion

September 20, 1944
from Fourth Pioneer Battalion

Left First Battalion

February 25, 1945
Killed in action at Iwo Jima

Left Service

February 25, 1945
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

Rural Route 3, Cordele, Georgia – address of parents, William & Frances Garner

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Boot camp at Parris Island with Fourth Separate Recruit Battalion; outposted to Fox Company, Second Battalion (Pioneers), 19th Marines on 4 October 1942. Transferred to Fox Company, Second Battalion (Pioneers), 20th Marines in early 1943.

Participated in the battles of Roi-Namur, Saipan, and Tinian as a Private, Machine Gunner (MOS 604).

Battalion disbanded September 1944; joined Able Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines at Camp Maui on 20 September 1944.

Iwo Jima

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private
MOS: 604 (Machine Gunner)
Important Events:
February 25, 1945 – killed in action (shrapnel wound, head); exact circumstances unknown
March 2, 1945 – buried in Plot 1, Row 17, Grave 826, Fourth Marine Division Cemetery

Campaign Narrative