This has been quite the day for photographs.
Lieutenant Endecott “Oz” Osgood joined the Marine Corps in 1941, not long after graduating from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. He went through Marine OCS, emerging as a second lieutenant in command of First Platoon, Company A, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) in January, 1943.
The evolution of Lieutenant Osgood.
Oz led his rifle platoon in combat in the battle of Namur on February 1-2, 1944. He was then transferred to battalion headquarters to act as a liaison officer, and was serving with HQ on Saipan when this photo was taken.
“Oz” was wounded in action on July 2, 1944, and evacuated from combat. He would be in and out of hospitals until his discharge in 1946, and was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions on Saipan. In 2007, he passed away in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Digital scan of this original AP photograph was kindly provided by Steve Foster. Original is in a private collection.