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| Edward Buckshot served with the 2nd Marine Division on Saipan. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141745637 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Troops_landing_on_Saipan.jpg |
Edward was born February 24, 1919 in Alton, Illinois. His parents Eugene and Grace were both born in Missouri. His father worked as a machinist for a glass manufacturer. Edward had one older brother and one younger brother. I was unable to find the family in the 1940 census records. Edward graduated from Alton High School in June 1940 and attended one semester of college as an art student. Prior to enlisting in the service, he was employed at Western Cartridge Company in East Alton.
Edward enlisted in the USMC in July 1942 and served in Company F, 2nd Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The 6th Marines sailed for the South Pacific in October 1942 and landed at Guadalcanal on January 4, 1943 and were engaged in combat with Japanese forces for six weeks before relocating to New Zealand to rest and refit.
In November 1943, PFC Buckshot and the 6th Marines took part in the amphibious invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, for which it received a Presidential Unit Citation for its role in the bloody combat to capture the island.
Next, the 6th Marines participated in the Battle of Saipan in the Marianas Islands, which would put US bombers in range of the Japanese islands. On June 15, 1944 the regiment made an amphibious assault at Saipan and took heavy casualties in the first hours ashore, but repulsed several enemy counterattacks that saved the beachhead. PFC Buckshot was killed in combat the next day June 16, 1944. Saipan was the bloodiest battle of WW2 for the 6th Marines.
Edward Stanley Buckshot is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Godfrey, Illinois.
Thank you Edward for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.
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This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled C-47 pilot Lawrence Jones. You can read about Lawrence here.
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!
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Thank you for your sacrifice I hope our young people today earn the freedom you made available to them. I wish schools taught more American history. If we don’t learn from our past we are prone to repeat it
ReplyDeleteMy mother was named after Uncle Eddie. Onw of my Aunt's has done an extensive genealogical on our family.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for information on Uncle Eddie