Gene Gordon Mundy

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number O-11309

Born

July 7, 1920
in Mt. Carmel, IL

Parents

Ezra Guy Mundy
Olive Rosetta (Leach) Mundy

School

Mt. Carmel High School (1938)
Northwestern University (1942)

Pre-War Employment

College student

Entered Service

June 29, 1942
at Mt. Carmel, IL

Joined First Battalion

October 19, 1942
from Training Camp New River

Left First Battalion

July 28, 1944
Wounded in action at Tinian

Left Service

July 22, 1946
Discharged for disability

Home Address and Next of Kin

926 Cherry Street, Mt. Carmel, IL – address of wife, Mrs. Helen E. (Frese) Mundy (married 1942)

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Participated in Navy ROTC at Northwestern University; commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on June 29, 1942. Attended Reserve Officers’ Class at Quantico beginning July 22, 1942. Transferred to New River, North Carolina on October 1; joined Headquarters Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on October 19, 1942.

During training, served as commanding officer, executive officer, and reconnaissance officer of D/1/24th Marines. Appointed battalion operations officer (Bn-3) on May 6, 1943.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines
Rank: First Lieutenant
MOS: 2162 – Battalion Operations Officer (Bn-3)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines
Rank: First Lieutenant
MOS: 2162 – Battalion Operations Officer (Bn-3)
Important Events:
July 2, 1944 – promoted to captain
July 3, 1944 – slightly wounded in action by American mortar round falling on battalion command post. Not evacuated.

Awarded the Bronze Star Medal for service during the Saipan campaign:

“For meritorious achievement in action against the enemy on Saipan, Marianas Islands, from June 15 to July 9, 1944. Captain Mundy, serving as plans and training officer of an Infantry battalion, displayed a marked ability to impart his knowledge of enemy tactics and was extremely successful in training both the officers and men of his battalion. He was tireless in his efforts to prepare the troops for combat and showed great energy and devotion to duty after the landing had been made. His example was an inspiration to all with whom he came in contact, and his conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Campaign Narrative

Tinian

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines
Rank: Captain
MOS: 2162 – Battalion Operations Officer (Bn-3)
Important Events:
July 28, 1944 – seriously wounded in action (shrapnel into right chest below clavicle) and reportedly left for dead; evacuated to USS Samaritan for treatment and transport to hospital.

Campaign Narrative

After leaving battalion

Admitted to US Fleet Hospital #108 (Guadalcanal) on 26 August 1944; patient there until transferred to United States for additional treatment on 24 September 1944; admitted to US Naval Hospital Mare Island. Transferred to US Naval Hospital Great Lakes, IL, winter 1944.

Combat wounds resulted in the loss of a lung and nine ribs. Discharged for disability on July 22, 1946, with rank of major.

Individual Decorations

Medal
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
– with Gold Star

Campaign
Saipan (June 15 – July 9, 1944)
Saipan (July 3, 1944)
Tinian (July 28, 1944)

Citation
See above

[The death of LtCol. Maynard Schultz] stripped the Battalion of its most-needed man, for good battalion commanders are practically indispensable. All three companies were well-led and well-officered, but the coordinating person was now gone. Hence, the real job of running the battalion devolved upon Mundy, with what aid Captain Webster (the Intelligence officer) and I could furnish him. He responded magnificently and was the man chiefly responsible for knitting together the splendidly functioning companies with the staff and the succeeding commanding officers, Lt. Col. Brunelli and Lt. Col. Lessing. Throughout the battle, the unit functioned as efficiently as we had anticipated.