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| Cpl. Daniel Ness served with the 2nd Marine Division during the invasion of Saipan. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20887233/daniel-willie-ness https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/saipan/first-assault-wave-of-landing-craft-massed-for-saipan-invasion-1944/ |
Daniel Willie Ness never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on September 13, 1919 in South Dakota. His parents William and Alma were born in North Dakota and Missouri, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a railroad foreman. Daniel had one older sister, two younger sisters, and a younger brother. By 1940 Daniel had completed four years of high school, was living at home, and was working as a laborer. He moved to California and worked in an aircraft factory.
He enlisted in the US Marines in February 1942. He became a corporal in Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The 6th Marine Regiment was initially sent to Iceland to defend the island. It joined the rest of the 2nd MD on Guadalcanal in January 1943. It helped eliminate the remaining Japanese forces on the island. An October 1943 hometown newspaper reported that Cpl. Ness had been hospitalized five times for malaria and that he had sent $160 home to buy war bonds.
Cpl. Ness was wounded in November during the Battle of Tarawa and was sent to Hawaii to recover. He was killed in action on June 15, 1944 while his unit was engaged in the first day of the invasion of Saipan.
His grave is at Pine Lawn Memorial Park in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Last year on this date I profiled Willie Graves, 3rd Marine Division. You can read about Willie 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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