William Joseph Imm, Jr.
"Bill"
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 472747
June 26, 1925
in Ridgewood, NY
William Joseph Imm
Dorothy (Hohmann) Imm
Details unknown
Details unknown
October 5, 1942
at New York, NY
December 6, 1942
from 13th Separate Recruit Battalion
February 23, 1945
Wounded in action at Iwo Jima
October 22, 1945
Honorably discharged
66-14 53rd Avenue, Maspeth, NY – address of parents, William and Dorothy Imm
Service & Campaigns
Enlisted at New York, NY on 5 October 1942. Boot camp at Parris Island and New River, North Carolina with 13th Separate Recruit Battalion.
Outposted directly to Company A, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River, 6 December 1942.
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines (Weapons platoon)
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 607 (Mortarman) – duty as platoon runner
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines (60mm mortars)
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 504 (Ammo carrier) – duty as forward observer
Important Events:
July 6, 1944 – wounded in action (lacerations, left hip); evacuated to unknown transport.
Did not participate in Tinian campaign due to wounds suffered on Saipan.
Admitted to US Naval Hospital #10, Aiea Heights, Hawaii on 24 July 1944. Under treatment through 19 August 1944, at which time discharged from hospital and returned to duty.
Rejoined Company A, First Battalion, 24th Marines at Camp Maui on 28 August 1944.
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 607 (Mortarman)
Important Events:
February 23, 1945 – wounded in action (chemical phosphorous burns, hands); evacuated to USS Mellette.
Admitted to US Army General Hospital #148, Saipan, on 28 February 1945. Under treatment until transferred to US Naval Hospital #10, Aieia Heights, on 17 March 1945. Discharged from hospital on 24 March 1945; transferred via Reclassification and Redistribution Center, San Diego, to duty with Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY.
Honorably discharged from NAS Floyd Bennett Field on 22 October 1945.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Purple Heart
– with Gold Star
Letter of Commendation
Campaign
Saipan (July 6, 1944)
Iwo Jima (February 23, 1945)
Saipan Campaign
Citation
—
—
“For excellent service in the line of his duties…”
When it became quite dark I woke Imm up, and explained what we were going to do. He almost knifed me when I shook him awake, but luckily I called him by name as I did it. The firing had quieted down, and we hopped out of the shell hole, and scurried off in the dark to where I thought the command post was, to try to arrange to have tanks brought up at dawn.[23]Moving around in the rear, we were challenged many times – often incorrectly, thus causing my answer to be incorrect – the first time, without thinking, I bawled out “You lugheaded sonofabitch, that’s no way to give the password!” then realized that the more I did that, the safer I was – everybody was jittery and trigger happy that night, and the more I sounded like a tough ole gunnery sergeant, the more at home they would feel.
We wandered around for a little while, but the command post was well hidden, for we never did find it–when we got to the lagoon beach where we landed, half a mile back, I found a phone and called up Battalion to tell them what was happening, and ask for tanks. Col. Dyess surprised me by saying that the Captain had just radioed in the same dope and the same request. So I woke Imm up – with a long stick – and we headed back. We went by way of the beach around the island, to avoid all the trigger-happy boys, and were even more worried by the fact that we didn’t hear any challenge at all. Walking up that silent beach – only sporadic firing inland now – with 60mm mortar parachute flares going off at regular intervals – during which we would freeze in whatever positions we happened to be in. Dead bodies everywhere – some lying in the shallow wash inside the coral reef – the island was beginning to smell already.
Looking for any info on my dad William Imm 1st division 24th marines. Thanks
Hi Kevin – sent you an email a few days ago with info on your father. Let me know if you received it. – Geoffrey