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| Sgt. George Broomfield earned the Silver Star at Okinawa, leaving behind an orphaned infant who lost his mother a month earlier. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27468256/george-marsh-broomfield https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=6475 |
George Marsh Broomfield never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on December 17, 1919 in Colorado. His parents were named James and Lucy, I was not able to locate census information on his family.
He enlisted in the marines in April 1940. He was assigned to the battleship USS Maryland. He was onboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and dropped two bombs on Maryland.
He married Alma Sarton in June 1943 and was stationed for a time in Utah and then in North Carolina. He returned to the Pacific at the end of 1944. He reached the rank of sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
Alma had a baby boy in April 1945. She developed blood clots during the delivery and died the next month. The Red Cross began the paperwork to send Sgt. Broomfield home, but in the meantime he felt compelled to remain in charge of his platoon. His leadership on June 11, 1945 earned him the Silver Star.
Here is his Silver Star citation:
When his squad was assigned the mission of assaulting a precipitous coral pinnacle strongly defended by Japanese entrenched in caves and pillboxes, Sergeant Broomfield skillfully maneuvered his men over exceedingly treacherous terrain and through intense and accurate enemy small-arms and mortar fire, and despite excruciating pain from a wound received during the attack, continued to direct the onslaught until our forces, spurred on by this heroic example, overcame the enemy position.
By his skillful leadership, cool courage in the face of grave danger and tenacious devotion to duty, Sergeant Broomfield contributed materially to the successful completion of his company's mission, making possible the destruction of three enemy pillboxes, and numerous Japanese, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Thank you Sgt. Broomfield for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for George.
Last year on this date I profiled William Momblow, 3rd Infantry Division. You can read about William 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
Sgt. Broomfield died on June 13, 1945, perhaps from the wounds sustained two days earlier. One week later, fighting on Okinawa was officially declared over.
His grave is at Fairview Cemetery in La Junta, Colorado.
The information for this profile was largely taken from an essay at the American World War II Orphans Network website written by his son. You can read it here.
Last year on this date I profiled William Momblow, 3rd Infantry Division. You can read about William 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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