Norman Frederick Lamphere
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 553928
November 4, 1926
in Buffalo, NY
Dennis Henry Lamphere
Bessie Mary (Reynolds) Lamphere
LaSalle Institute & Orphanage
Details unknown
December 4, 1943
at Albany, NY
September 20, 1944
from 3rd Provisional Marine Detachment
March 9, 1945
Killed in action at Iwo Jima
March 9, 1945
Killed in action
36 Columbia Street, Rensselaer, NY – home of mother, Mrs. Bessie Lamphere
Service & Campaigns
Enlisted Albany, NY on 4 December 1943. Boot camp at Parris Island with Eighth Recruit Battalion; to 49th Replacement Battalion for transit to Pacific theater. Assigned to Third Provisional Marine Detachment at Camp Maui, Hawaii, for duty as an electrician (MOS 078).
Joined Able Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines on 20 September 1944.
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private
MOS: 765 (Visual Signalman)
Important Events:
March 2, 1945 – slightly wounded in action, cause and circumstances unknown; not evacuated
March 9, 1945 – killed in action (gunshot wound, head), exact circumstances unknown
Buried in Fourth Marine Division Cemetery Plot 1, Row 35, Grave 1712, on March 15.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Purple Heart
– with Gold Star
Campaign
Iwo Jima (March 2, 1945)
Iwo Jima (March 9, 1945)
Citation
For wounds received in action
For wounds received in action, resulting in death
That was the last time I saw him. He was killed very shortly afterward by a Jap sniper who got him between the eyes. I am glad to say that he didn’t suffer in the least because he was dead before he hit the ground.
Norman was my Uncle. He had a short, difficult life. His father left the family during the depresssion and he was raised in an orphanage in Albany NY. Family lore says he lied about his age to get into the military. I have a better photo frin his military file as well as a photo of the telegram sent to my Grandmother notifying her of Norman’s death. Please let me know if the site is still active, I would like to add to Norman’s page.
Norman lamphere was my grandfather’s younger brother , my grandfather’s name is Dennis Henry lamphere. He passed away at a young age of 40 leaving behind 6 young children, my mother was his 4 child , she unfortunately passed away in 2021 at 68 just a week before Christmas and a month before her 69th bday.. my mother loved telling stories of her dad whom she loved so much. I never heard her talk of Norman. I had met their brother Jim he used to take my brothers to firehouse parties and football practice. My mother passed before I found out about Norman and after my grandfather passed in 63 my mom did not see much of the lampheres she talked of some of her cousins . I would love to hear and know more about the lamphere side of my lamphere. Thank you for commenting and hope all is well .