Grant F. Timmerman
Grant Frederick Timmerman | |
---|---|
2nd Battalion 6th Marines 2nd Tank Battalion | |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart (2) |
Grant Frederick Timmerman (February 19, 1919 – July 8, 1944) was a
Early years
Grant Timmerman was born in Americus, Kansas on February 19, 1919. Educated in the public schools of Emporia, Kansas, he graduated from Emporia High School in 1936. He played the saxophone in the high school band for two years, enjoyed hunting small game, and read, wrote, and spoke French and Russian. He attended Kansas State Teacher's College in Emporia for one year, where he took a pre-engineering course. In the summer of 1937, he went to California and worked as an electric welder at San Mateo, California.
Military service
He enlisted in the
China
He crossed the
It was July 1940 before Pvt Timmerman was promoted to private first class. When the usual 18-month tour of duty was completed, PFC Timmerman requested that his tour be extended. His request was granted and it was thirty-three months in all before he set foot on the California shore again. Returning to Mare Island in April 1941, he was given duty at the Naval Prison there and stayed at that post until his discharge at the completion of his four-year enlistment on October 27, 1941.
He went back to electric welding and got a job at the ship yard of the
World War II
Since he had only been out of the Marine Corps for four months, the 23-year-old
Tarawa
After a period of intensive training in Wellington, the 2nd Division made their landing on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands on November 20, 1943. However, it was two days later that Sgt Timmerman came in with the tanks. In December, they went to Hawaii for a rest and more training, and in May 1944 left for another combat mission — the last for Timmerman.
Saipan — Medal of Honor action
He landed on
The Medal and also a Bronze Star earned earlier in the Saipan campaign, were presented to his parents on July 8, 1945, the first anniversary of his death, in their home by Col Norman E. True of the Marine Barracks in Great Lakes, Illinois. This quiet informal presentation was made at the request of the Marine's mother.
Initially buried in the 2nd Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan, Marianas Island, Sgt Timmerman was later reinterred in the
Awards and honor
Timmerman's awards include:
Medal of Honor | Bronze Star | ||
award star
|
Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal | China Service Medal |
American Defense Service Medal w/ Base clasp | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 2 service stars
|
World War II Victory Medal
|
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Tank Commander serving with the
Second Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, on 8 July 1944. Advancing with his tank a few yards ahead of the infantry in support of a vigorous attack on hostile positions, Sergeant Timmerman maintained steady fire from his antiaircraft sky mount machine gun until progress was impeded by a series of enemy trenches and pillboxes. Observing a target of opportunity, he immediately ordered the tank stopped and, mindful of the danger from the muzzle blast as he prepared to open fire with the 75-mm., fearlessly stood up in the exposed turret and ordered the infantry to hit the deck. Quick to act as a grenade, hurled by the Japanese, was about to drop into the open turret hatch, Sergeant Timmerman unhesitatingly blocked the opening with his body, holding the grenade against his chest and taking the brunt of the explosion. His exceptional valor and loyalty in saving his men at the cost of his own life reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Timmerman and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his live in the service of country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
Honor
- In January 1946, the Navy named one of its new Gearing class destroyers after Sgt Timmerman. The USS Timmerman (DD-828)was christened by his mother.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Sergeant Grant Frederick Timmerman, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps". Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- "Sgt Grant F. Timmerman, Medal of Honor, 1944, 2/6/2, Saipan, Medal of Honor citation". Archived from the original on July 14, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2010.