Harlan Chester Jeffery

Enlisted at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 31 January 1940; boot camp at Parris Island. Outposted to Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Hingham, Massachusetts in March 1940. Duty at Hingam through summer of 1942.

Married Ellen Josephine Hackett in 1941, while stationed in Massachusetts.

In September 1942, assigned to 4th Replacement Battalion and traveled to California. On 1 October 1942, joined Third Military Police Company, 3rd Marine Division at Camp Elliott. Transferred to post Guard Company winter of 1942; duty through July 1943 as motorcycle patrolman. To Infantry Battalion, Camp Elliott for infantry training.

Joined Baker Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California, on 25 August 1943.

Outfit: B/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 504 (Ammo carrier)

[Diary entry]
Feb 1 44:
B-1-24 landed on Namur island met opposition on the beach, killed my first Japs in a pillbox about ten yards from the beach, it took is about twenty four hours to take the island, there was about 3500 dead Japs when we got through.

Campaign Narrative

Outfit: B/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 653 (Squad Leader)
Important Events:
June 17, 1944 – wounded in action (gunshot, right shoulder); evacuated to USS Solace.

We moved across the field and was getting fired on from a high hill. i don’t know why, but I was the first one to go up that high hill. When I got to the top there was a cane field. I lay on the ground at the beginning of the cane field trying to observe any movement. After what appeared to be no movement, looked to the left and then to my right, just as quickly a bullet ripped through my shoulder. As soon as I realized I could move, I rolled down the hill and back to the aid station.

Campaign Narrative

Did not participate in Tinian campaign due to wounds suffered in action at Saipan.

Admitted to US Fleet Hospital #108, Guadalcanal, on 26 June 1944. Transferred to 16th Field Depot for light duty on 29 June 1944.

Rejoined Baker Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines at Camp Maui, August 1944.

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines (assault & demolitions platoon)
Rank: Sergeant
MOS: 737 (Infantry NCO) – flamethrower squad leader
Important Events:
February 20, 1945 – wounded in action (gunshot wound, grazing, scalp); not evacuated.

[Diary entry]
Feb. 20 1945
We was advancing along a draw near the beach when a Jap sniper opened up on us. Everyone scattered, but my squad got pinned down as it was the leading squad. One of my boys got hit so I stuck my head up and cryed for a corpsman, I no sooner raised my head and I felt something knock me backwards, I knew I was hit in the head, I got so excited I started hollering – get a corpsman, get a corpsman, in about to minutes there was a corpsman patching up my head, he said I would be alright for the bullet only cut the skin, I told the corpsman to look at my buddy behind me but he said it was to late he was dead. Well as soon as I got my senses back I knew I had to get myself and men out of that position for it was to damn hot to stay there, I passed the word back to the next man that we was going to move out, he hollered back that he couldn’t move he was hit. So I jumped up and ran forward to get a corpsman but by the time he got to him he was dead. After all that hell and pain. I finally led my squad forward behind a ridge out of range of the Jap sniper. We had to pass through an enemy minefield. That was many an hour we prayed to God.

Received Silver Star Medal for actions on February 24, 1945:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Harlan C. Jeffery (MCSN: 281888), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of a Demolitions and Flame Thrower Platoon of Headquarters, First Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 24 February 1945. Assigned the mission of destroying the hostile pillbox which was holding up the advance of his company, Sergeant Jeffery sustained wounds but, refusing to be evacuated, led his squad forward on his own initiative, he destroyed two more enemy pillboxes, thereby permitting the advance of his company. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Campaign Narrative

On 1 August 1945, transferred to Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, Fourth Marine Division. Returned to United States via USS Kasaan Bay, November 1945. Transferred to Naval Ammunition Depot, Hingham, Massachusetts.

Discharged from Hingham on 31 January 1946.