WORLD WAR II GYRENE PHOTO ALBUM

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Corporal Ross Whitney Jr. E 2/27 5th MarDiv

 

Corporal (then Pfc) Ross Whitney of Chicago, Ill., in April 1944. Photo courtesy of Cole Whitney

Ross Whitney Jr. hailed from Chicago and was one one of the thousands of young men who answered duty's call in World War II. I learned about Ross from his son Cole Whitney. In December 2007, Cole sent me an e-mail about his dad with the following information in it:

"My father tried to join at 15, but the Marines told him to graduate high school first. He graduated early, got his God parents to sign a waiver and went to the V12 officer training program at Emory University in Atlanta when he was 17. Motivation was obvious with my father! I believe he went on to Camp Pendleton from Emory in late 1943 when the Marines were looking for replacements to fill in depleted units. His officer training was cut short."

At Camp Pendleton, Ross was first assigned to the Raider Replacement Training Battalion. When this outfit was deactivated in January 1944, he received a transfer to Co E, 2nd Bn, 27th Marines, 5th MarDiv.

As an infantry Marine, Ross participated in the battle for Iwo Jima and was one of a handful of men in his unit who were not killed or wounded. After the war, he went to work for the Michigan Avenue National Bank in Chicago. He passed away in 2004, but his memory is kept alive by Cole, who gives talks to middle schoolers about the World War II generation and their sacrifice and courage in World War II.

Among the gallant Marines of Easy Co, 2/27, was 1stLt Jack Lummus of Ellis County, Tex. A former professional football player with the New York Giants, Jack joined the Marine Corps in January 1942. He served with the Marine Raiders as an instructor and was transferred to 2/27 in January 1944. As a platoon leader in Easy Company on Iwo Jima, Jack was mortally wounded while leading his Marines in a hand-to-hand assault on 8 March 1945. For his heroism that day, he was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. USMC Photo

 

2ND BATTALION, 27TH MARINES CASUALTIES ON IWO JIMA

Killed in Action		Died of Wounds		Wounded in Action		Total
Officer	Enlisted	Officer	Enlisted	Officer	Enlisted	Officer	Enlisted
2	85	2	35	22	481	26	601

	Ross Whitney in 1944 with his Thompson Submachine Gun. Photo courtesy of Cole Whitney

Ross Whitney (right) with two of his battle buddies in 1944. The left-hand Marine carries a BAR and the center Marine hold an M1 rifle. Photo courtesy of Cole Whitney

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