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| Lt. Lowell Toelle earned the Bronze Star while with the 1st Marine Division in New Britain. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135011300/lowell-raymond-toelle https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Gloucester/index.html |
Lowell Raymond Toelle never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on February 14, 1920 in Freeport, Indiana. His parents Raymond and Helen were born in Illinois and Indiana, respectively. His father worked as an auto factory foreman and later as a laborer. Lowell had one older brother and one younger sister. By 1940 Lowell was attending Butler University where he was the starting left guard on the football team for three years.
He enlisted in the Army Air Forces 10 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In October 1942 he volunteered for the US Marines. He became a first lieutenant in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He married Jeanne Steiner in March 1943. In June 1943 he was sent to Australia where he joined as a replacement to take the place of leathernecks lost on Guadalcanal.
The 1st Marine Division landed in New Britain on the day after Christmas 1943. For three weeks the marines battled the Japanese in what came to be known as the Battle of Cape Gloucester. The Americans wanted to capture two airfields. That goal was achieved before the end of December but there was still Japanese resistance as the marines moved south.
Lt. Toelle was killed in action on January 9, 1944 while defending a position on or near Aogiri Ridge. His efforts were recognized by a Bronze Star award.
His Bronze Star citation includes the following:
Lieutenant Toelle showed great courage and leadership in repulsing several fierce counterattacks on a jungle ridge which had been captured from the enemy. His unflinching resolved added greatly to repulsing the attacks. By his utter disregard for his personal safety, he was an inspiration to the men of his command.
His grave is at Highland Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. I don't know what happened to his widow.
Last year on this date I profiled Leyte fallen Jack Brown, 32nd Infantry Division. You can read about Jack 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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