- SURNAME
Frackelton
- FORENAME
Harold Parker, Jr.
- UNIT
formerly 1st Marine Parachute Regiment
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
492104
- DATE OF DEATH
10th March 1945
- AGE
22
- GRAVESITE
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, USA. Plot Graceland, Lot 6469-3
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 02.06.1922, Los Angeles, California, USA
father Harold P. Frackelton (1895-1944)
mother Elsa Louise Frackelton (1895-1967)
1941 graduated Eagle Rock High School
Next of kin - Mother, Mrs. Elsa Frackelton, 3950 Scandia Way, Los Angeles, California
KIA Iwo Jima, Japan
posthumous Silver Star
DATE OF DEATH:
10-Mar-1945CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Harold P. Frackelton, Jr. (MCSN: 492104), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Member of a Forward Observation Team for the 81-mm. Mortar Platoon serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, on 10 March 1945. Stationed in a strategic observation post approximately seventy-five yards ahead of the front lines, Corporal Frackelton skillfully placed the accurate fire of his battery on strongly fortified Japanese positions and succeeded in inflicting considerable damage on hostile installations before the rapidly increasing volume of enemy mortar fire rendered his exposed position untenable. Withdrawing to another point, he was informed of the urgent necessity for effecting a protective smoke screen between the enemy and our tanks operating forward of the lines in a mined area where Marines were engaged in repairing disabled vehicles and attempting to evacuate their wounded crew members. Fearlessly disregarding all personal danger, he immediately returned to his original observation post despite the un-abating fury of deadly fire which blanketed the area and coolly directed his team in laying a heavy smoke cover until fatally struck down by a bursting mortar shell. An aggressive and inspiring leader, Corporal Frackelton, by his alert initiative, dauntless courage and sound tactical knowledge, aided materially in the evacuation of several wounded comrades and enabled our besieged tank crews to effect necessary repairs to vitally needed equipment during a critical phase of the battle. His valiant spirit of self-sacrifice and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/42083FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119866918/harold-parker-frackelton
Last edited:
