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| PFC Orville Kitzmiller served with the 3rd Marine Division in Guam. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55223596/orville-depew-kitzmiller Kingsport Times, 1 Oct 1944 https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Guam/index.html |
Orville Depew Kitzmiller never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 14, 1919 in Sullivan, Tennessee. His parents Edward and Chess were also both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a farmer. Orville had an older sister and brother and three younger sisters and a younger brother. By 1940 Orville had completed eight years of schooling and was living at home working on the family farm.
He volunteered for the US Marines on June 25, 1943. He was sent to the Pacific Theater in January 1944. He became a private first class in Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
The 3rd MD landed on Guam on July 21, 1944. It would take 21 days for the Americans to defeat the Japanese and another two months mopping up those who hid out. PFC Kitzmiller was killed on July 23, 1944 while the Americans were still pinned down on the beachheads and Japanese soldiers penetrated the lines during the nights. The 3rd MD would lose 677 Leathernecks killed by the time the battle was over.
His grave is at Beulah Community Cemetery in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Howie Smith, 34th Infantry Division. You can read about Howie 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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