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| Lt. Francis Lane served with the 3rd Marine Division at Iwo Jima. His widow was presented with his Silver Star medal in 1946. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113964102/francis-baxter-lane The Berkshire County Eagle, 25 Sep 1945 |
Francis Baxter Lane never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
This is the 900th of the WW2 fallen profiled by this project. The project plans to continue these stories through September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2.
Francis was born on July 13, 1919 in Massachusetts. His parents Norman and Anna were born in Massachusetts and Ireland, respectively. His father worked as a church sexton and later as a janitor. Francis had two older brothers. By 1940 Francis had completed four years of high school and was still living at home. He went on to graduate from Boston University where he worked on the school newspaper, served in student government, and studied business administration.
He enlisted in the US Marines on March 27, 1942. He was commission an officer in September 1943. He became a first lieutenant in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. Lt. Lane married Bernardine R. Collins in October 1943.
The 3rd MD first saw action in Bougainville in November 1943 where it was engaged in 27 days of continuous action. It next helped defeat the Japanese in the Battle of Guam in July 1944.
Lt. Lane led a platoon in the Battle of Iwo Jima beginning on February 21, 1945, D+2. From the beginning, the 21st MR's advancement was slow and costly. Lt. Lane survived until his fourth day in action. His leadership posthumously earned him the Silver Star.
His Silver Star citation reads, in part, as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a rifle platoon leader of Company K, Third Battalion, 21st Marines, Third Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from Feb. 21 to 24 1945.
Courageously leading his platoon in a daring strike against the heavily fortified, deeply entrenched enemy on Motoyama Airfield Number 2, Second Liet. Lane boldly pressed forward against fanatic hostile resistance, fighting furiously despite the overwhelming odds and wiping out 12 Japanese pillboxes to extend the time of advance to the edge of the field. Undaunted by the continued shelling, he promptly reorganized his platoon and prepared to push the attack across the fire-swept airstrip and, constantly exposing himself to the withering barrage as he directed his men to the objective, staunchly continued his foward drive until fatally stuck down by a bursting shell.
Inspired by his forceful leadership, valiant spirit and unwavering zeal, Lieut. Lane's intrepid men relentlessly laid down terrific supporting shell fire against the enemy flank enabling the adjacent company to move forward and thereby contributing to the success of our forces in capturing this vital hostile stronghold.
The fighting on Iwo Jima cost the 3rd Marine Division 1,131 killed in action and 4,438 wounded, in other words, more than one in three 3MD leathernecks were casualties.
His grave is at Saint Anns Cemetery in Lenox, Massachusetts. I don't know what happened to his widow.
Last year on this date I profiled Distinguished Service Cross hero and medic Willis Hall, 84th Infantry Division. You can read about Willis 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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