WW2 Iwo Jima Fallen - Thelmar Harris, 5th Marine Division

Pvt. Thelmar Harris was with these men of the 27th Marine Regiment on the beaches of Iwo Jima on D-Day,
two days before he was killed.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110303751&ref=acom
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/iwo-jima-map/?lp=true
https://multimedialearningllc.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/major-wwii-battles-chronology-lesson/ 

Thelmar Derry Harris never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 6, 1917 in Kentucky. His parents were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a farmer. Thelmar had two older brothers and an older sister, plus a younger brother and sister. By 1940 Thelmar was married to Margaret Sim and worked as a carpenter's helper.

On April 11, 1944 Thelmar left a job with a local milk company and his wife and two young children to join the Marines. He became a private in Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division.

Iwo Jima was the first engagement with the enemy for the 5th Marine Division. Its men landed on D-Day on February 19, 1945.  On February 21, 1945, D+2, the 27th Marine Regiment ran up against violent resistance by Japanese soldiers holed up in caves and concrete and steel emplacements. After advancing about 1,000 yards the enemy zeroed in with intense mortar and artillery fire. The regiment suffered an incredible loss of 571 men killed or wounded all on one day. One of those killed was Pvt. Harris.

His grave is at Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville, Tennessee. His widow did not remarry until 1968 when their children were fully grown. She died in 2008. I don't know what happened to their son and daughter.

Thank you Thelmar for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Thelmar.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

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