- SURNAME
Bernard
- FORENAME
Morris Joseph
- UNIT
formerly 1st Marine Parachute Regiment (Company G)
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
490581
- DATE OF DEATH
19th February 1945
- AGE
22
- GRAVESITE
Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California, USA. Section D, Site 391
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 23.01.1923, California, USA
employed by Pacific State Steel
30.06.1942 draft card Sunol, California
03.12.1942 entered service
KIA Iwo Jima, Japan
posthumous Silver Star
DATE OF DEATH:
19-Feb-1945CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Morris Joseph Bernard (MCSN: 490581), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Group Leader, serving with Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Landing under intense mortar and machine gun fire during initial assault operations, Corporal Bernard observed that the merciless barrage was coming from a blockhouse directly in front of the landing party. Instantly maneuvering toward a position flanking the blockhouse, he continuously exposed himself to the devastating fury of the Japanese guns as he advanced alone upon the objective and, attacking the enemy position with hand grenades, succeeded in pinning down the hostile garrison until a demolition man moved up and completely destroyed the blockhouse. Although he yielded his life as a direct result of head wounds received during the bitter action, Corporal Bernard, by his expert tactical ability, daring initiative and devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds, had enabled his company to continue the advance with a minimum loss of life, and his conduct throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/42014FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1197323/morris-joseph-bernardSERVICE HISTORY:
BERNARD, Morris J, Cpl, 745 (Rifleman), 737 (Sqd Leader) SN: 490581
Born: 23 Jan 1923 California
Enlisted USMCR: 03 Dec 1942 DHS Kansas City, MO (Home of Record: Box 112, Sunol, California)
Died: 19 Feb 1945 (KIA, Iwo Jima, Bonins (Volcano) Islands)
Interred: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, CA (Section D, Row , Grave 391)
Central Recruiting Division, 706 US Court House Building, Chicago, IL
Dec 1942 Pvt, CRD, 706 USCH Bldg, Chicago, IL “Acc at SDHS, Wichita, Kan.; Jdenl at DHS, Kansas City, Mo.”
1st Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA
Dec 1942 Pvt, 1stRecBn, RD, MCB, San Diego, CA “3Dec42; 11, Jd fr CRD, Kansas City, Mo.”
Jan 1943 Pvt, 1stRecBn, RD, MCB, San Diego, CA “3Dec42; 23, to Parachute Trng School, Camp Gillespie, Calif.”
Company A, Parachute Training School, Camp Gillespie, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA
Jan 1943 Pvt, Co A, ParaTrngSch, Camp Gillespie, MCB, San Diego, CA“3Dec42; 23, jdfr 1stRecBn, RDep, MCB, Post”
Parachute Replacement Company, Service Battalion, Training Center, Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA
Apr 1943 PFC, ParaReplCo, SBn, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA “Para”
Company G, 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, 1st MAC, FMF, In the Field
Jul 1943 PFC, Co G, 2ndParaBn, 1stMarParReg, 1stMAC, FMF, In the Field (Tontouta, New Caledonia) “Para”
Oct 1943 PFC, Co G, 2ndParaBn, 1stMarParReg, 1stMAC, FMF, In the Field (Choiseul, B.S.I.) “Para”
Jan 1944 PFC, Co G, 2ndParaBn, 1stMarParReg, FMF, At Sea “Para; 17, emb abd SS METEOR at Guadalcanal, B.S.I.; 18, sailed therefrom; 19-31, at sea.”
Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, FMF
Apr 1944 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA “745; 27-30, sk USNH, Post”
Jul 1944 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA “746”
Oct 1944 Cpl, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, In the Field “737, Co C”
Jan 1945 Cpl, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, In the Field “737, Co C”
Feb 1945 Cpl, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Iwo Jima, Bonins Islands) “737, Co C; 19, KIA"
Born: 23 Jan 1923 California
Enlisted USMCR: 03 Dec 1942 DHS Kansas City, MO (Home of Record: Box 112, Sunol, California)
Died: 19 Feb 1945 (KIA, Iwo Jima, Bonins (Volcano) Islands)
Interred: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, CA (Section D, Row , Grave 391)
Central Recruiting Division, 706 US Court House Building, Chicago, IL
Dec 1942 Pvt, CRD, 706 USCH Bldg, Chicago, IL “Acc at SDHS, Wichita, Kan.; Jdenl at DHS, Kansas City, Mo.”
1st Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA
Dec 1942 Pvt, 1stRecBn, RD, MCB, San Diego, CA “3Dec42; 11, Jd fr CRD, Kansas City, Mo.”
Jan 1943 Pvt, 1stRecBn, RD, MCB, San Diego, CA “3Dec42; 23, to Parachute Trng School, Camp Gillespie, Calif.”
Company A, Parachute Training School, Camp Gillespie, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA
Jan 1943 Pvt, Co A, ParaTrngSch, Camp Gillespie, MCB, San Diego, CA“3Dec42; 23, jdfr 1stRecBn, RDep, MCB, Post”
Parachute Replacement Company, Service Battalion, Training Center, Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA
Apr 1943 PFC, ParaReplCo, SBn, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA “Para”
Company G, 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, 1st MAC, FMF, In the Field
Jul 1943 PFC, Co G, 2ndParaBn, 1stMarParReg, 1stMAC, FMF, In the Field (Tontouta, New Caledonia) “Para”
Oct 1943 PFC, Co G, 2ndParaBn, 1stMarParReg, 1stMAC, FMF, In the Field (Choiseul, B.S.I.) “Para”
Jan 1944 PFC, Co G, 2ndParaBn, 1stMarParReg, FMF, At Sea “Para; 17, emb abd SS METEOR at Guadalcanal, B.S.I.; 18, sailed therefrom; 19-31, at sea.”
Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, FMF
Apr 1944 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA “745; 27-30, sk USNH, Post”
Jul 1944 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA “746”
Oct 1944 Cpl, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, In the Field “737, Co C”
Jan 1945 Cpl, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, In the Field “737, Co C”
Feb 1945 Cpl, Co C, 1stBn, 27thMar, 5thMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Iwo Jima, Bonins Islands) “737, Co C; 19, KIA"
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