WW2 Saipan Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Frederick Timmerman, 2nd Marine Division

Sgt. Frederick Timmerman was the commander of the tank like the one in this photo during the Battle of Saipan
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7745032/grant-frederick-timmerman
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-usa-improvised-armor-on-m4-shermans-in-the-pto/

Grant Frederick Timmerman never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 19, 1919 in Kansas. His parents James and Esther were also both born in Kansas. His father worked as a farmer and later as an automobile machinist. Frederick had two younger brothers and three younger sisters. He played saxophone in high school and was a student of both French and Russian. He attended one year of college at Kansas State Teacher's College before joining the Marines in 1937.

Frederick was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment and was sent to China. He completed his four year enlistment in October 1941 and got a job at a San Francisco shipyard. Had he stayed in the 4th Marines, he would have been in the Philippines when the war started. After the Pearl Harbor attack he reenlisted in the Marines. He was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division and reached the rank of sergeant.

Sgt. Timmerman first saw action in the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943. He next participated in the Battle of Saipan. He was in combat from the first day, June 15, 1944. Three weeks later he was wounded by shrapnel but he stayed with his tank command.

July 8, 1944 would prove to be the last day of major fighting on Saipan. The battle would claim nearly 14,000 American casualties. It was the most costly victory at the time in the Pacific campaign. Having survived weeks of hellish fighting, on that day Sgt. Timmerman was one of the last Americans killed in action. While standing up in his tank's open turret, he stopped a Japanese grenade from falling into the tank and was killed, shielding the blast from the men inside. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Sgt. Timmerman's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Tank Commander serving with the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, on 8 July 1944. 

Advancing with his tank a few yards ahead of the infantry in support of a vigorous attack on hostile positions, Sergeant Timmerman maintained steady fire from his antiaircraft sky mount machine gun until progress was impeded by a series of enemy trenches and pillboxes. Observing a target of opportunity, he immediately ordered the tank stopped and, mindful of the danger from the muzzle blast as he prepared to open fire with the 75-mm., fearlessly stood up in the exposed turret and ordered the infantry to hit the deck. Quick to act as a grenade, hurled by the Japanese, was about to drop into the open turret hatch, Sergeant Timmerman unhesitatingly blocked the opening with his body, holding the grenade against his chest and taking the brunt of the explosion. 

His exceptional valor and loyalty in saving his men at the cost of his own life reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Timmerman and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his live in the service of country.

After the war the Navy named a destroyer after him in his honor.

His grave is at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Thank you Sgt. Timmerman for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Frederick.

Last year on this date I profiled combat engineer Robert Kuehn. You can read about Robert 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!

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

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org