Raymond Edward Bartlett

"Ray"

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 375166

Born

December 13, 1913
in Denison, IA

Parents

William Cook Bartlett
Lena Marie (Bohnker) Bartlett

School

High school graduate
Details unknown

Pre-War Employment

Denison Seed Company

Entered Service

April 7, 1942
at Des Moines, IA

Joined First Battalion

September 5, 1943
from Puget Sound Navy Yard

Left First Battalion

June 17, 1944
Killed in action at Saipan

Left Service

June 17, 1944
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

1811 Third Avenue North, Denison, IA – home of parents, William & Lena Bartlett

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Boot camp at MCRD San Diego with Second Recruit Battalion; outposted to Marine Detachment, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. Duty with post Receiving Station through September, 1943.

Joined Charlie Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA, on 5 September 1943.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 653 (Squad / Team Leader)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: Sergeant
MOS: 653 (Squad Leader)
Important Events:
June 17, 1944 – killed in action (gunshot, left chest) while advancing through a cane field
June 20, 1944 – buried Plot 1, Row 1, Grave 24, US Army Cemetery #1, Saipan

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Saipan (June 17, 1944)

Citation
—

The first time I came under enemy fire [they] killed one of the platoon leaders [sic] named Bartlett. I was in the mortar section. They fired at us, bypassed us in a cane field somehow.... That's when I dropped my first Jap. I shook like a leaf every time I killed one of 'em, until I got three of 'em killed. I quick shaking then.