Charles Horwitz

Charles was born in Kansas City, Missouri on 24 February 1926. He was the only child born to David Morris Horwitz and Eva Caviar; David, a widower, had two children from a previous marriage but they were adopted by his late wife’s family. David’s work as a salesman caused the family to relocate to Detroit in the 1920s, and Charles spent part of his childhood in the Motor City.

Unfortunately, the marriage ultimately failed and Charles’ parents divorced in 1935. Eva returned to Missouri, where she remarried to Henry Marion Gannon; David wound up in Oklahoma City, running a jewelry store. Charles evidently spent time with both parents; while he resided in St. Louis with his mother and Henry, he joined the Marine Corps from Oklahoma City – suggesting a visit to his father’s new family (and another half-brother, Irvin, born in 1941).

Charles was seventeen when he enlisted on 1 October 1943; within ten weeks he was Private Horwitz of the First Battalion, 24th Marines. After a brief stint with battalion headquarters, he was assigned for duty with Able Company. The unit was making its final preparations for overseas deployment, and the Marines were enjoying their last few chances at Stateside liberty. Private Horwitz was granted a pass on 9 January but failed to return on time. He did not return until 24 January, by which point his company was already headed for combat. Horwitz was apprehended, fined $30, and sentenced to a month of extra duty – a comparatively light punishment for missing his ship – and headed for Camp Maui with the battalion’s rear echelon.

Taking off on liberty became a problem for Private Horwitz; he got in trouble on two separate occasions in the spring of 1944, with punishments increasing in severity – additional fines, ten days on bread and water, and finally ten days in solitary confinement. He was left with the rear echelon once again when the battalion sailed for the Mariana Islands, and by the fall of 1944 had yet to see any combat.

However, in November Private Horwitz volunteered for a new unit – the Assault and Demolitions Platoon, part of battalion headquarters – and trained on a new weapon: the flamethrower. He would carry this fearsome device into action on Iwo Jima, where he acquitted himself very well. Horwitz managed to escape wounds or injury, received a promotion to Private First Class, and was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for his actions in battle.

Charles Horwitz was honorably discharged on 27 November 1945. Ironically, upon his return to civilian life, he was old enough – and still compelled – to register for Selective Service.