Howard Albertson

Howard Albertson was the younges son of Albert and Eliza Albertson of Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended school through the eighth grade, then had to seek employment to help support two families – his wife Mary gave birth to a son in 1938, when she was just sixteen, and nineteen-year-old Howard had his hands full working as a shipping clerk in a local box factory.

Howard was inducted into the Marine Corps in the spring of 1944. He trained at MCRD San Diego, and joined Company B, 24th Marines that fall. He served as a rifleman in one of the front line rifle platoons during training and in combat on Iwo Jima.

Private Albertson was wounded in action on 4 March 1945, when a piece of shrapnel smashed into his right shoulder. He was evacuated from the island aboard the USS Bolivar and treated at Naval Hospital #128, before being released and returned to duty in April. Albertson rejoined the remnants of his company back at Camp Maui; he was awarded the Purple Heart and the stripe of a Private First Class.

Albertson stayed with Baker Company through the end of the war. He served briefly with the 9th MP Battalion in October 1945, and was discharged before the end of the year.

Howard Albertson returned to his family in Indiana. A heart attack ended his life in 1967, at the relatively young age of 48. Albertson is buried in Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis.