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| Major Elmer Sutphin was killed in action when his LVT was hit as it approach White Beach at Peleliu. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125262412/elmer-ellsworth-sutphin Rutgers 1940 Yearbook https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/peleliu/ |
Elmer Ellsworth Sutphin, III never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on April 6, 1919 in Trenton, New Jersey. His parents Harold and Ruth were also both born in New Jersey. His father worked as a machine shop partner. Elmer had one younger brother. By 1940 Elmer was attending Rutgers University. His namesake grandfather died in 1942. He married Margaret Wood around this time.
Elmer was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1940. He reached the rank of major in June 1944. He served in the Headquarter and Service Company, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. His regiment commander was the famous Chesty Puller. It is very possible that Elmer was with his unit when it fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal. It went on to fight in New Britain.
The 1st Marine Regiment was given the assignment of landing on the northern most beachhead at Peleliu. Planners thought they could take the island in a few days time, repeating the success at Tarawa. Major Sutphin was killed on the first day of the battle, September 15, 1944. The command group's five LVTs were badly hit crossing the reef to White Beach so he probably never made it out of his boat. Within 10 days the 1st Marine Regiment had to be pulled off the line - it had suffered 58 percent casualties and was no longer combat effective.
His grave is at First Presbyterian Church of Ewing Cemetery in Ewing, New Jersey. His widow never remarried and died in 1948 at age 27.
Last year on this date I profiled Wayne Winans, 101st Airborne Division. You can read about Winans 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.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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