- SURNAME
Geddings
- FORENAME
John Wilford
- UNIT
formerly 1st Marine Parachute Regiment
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
331355
- DATE OF DEATH
22nd February 1945
- AGE
21
- GRAVESITE
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Plot M,588
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 17.09.1923, Mason City, Illinois, USA
father Ezra W. Geddings (1895-1954)
11.1943 Silver Star Choiseul, Solomon Islands
mother Mildred Emma (nee Walton) Geddings (1896-1974)
employed by Mitchell and Castle Company (Automobile dealership, Peoria, Illinois)
12.12.1941 entered service
Next of kin - Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ezra W. Geddings, 610 East Walnut Street, Macon City, Illinois
KIA Iwo Jima, Japan
Mason City Cemetery, Mason City, Illinois, USA (Memorial)
DATE OF DEATH:
22-Feb-1945AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/geddings-john-wilford.59865/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class John W. Geddings (MCSN: 331355), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Second Marine parachute battalion during an attack against enemy Japanese forces on Choiseul Island, Solomon Islands in November 1943. Encountering an ambush of approximately twenty Japanese while he was leading the point of a combat patrol, Private First Class Geddings attempted to open fire but found his weapon inoperative. Armed only with hand grenades, he used them with great effectiveness, doggedly holding his ground in the face of heavy fire and causing numerous casualties which contributed materially to the speedy rout of the enemy. His aggressive fighting spirit and cool courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/36479FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3775720/john-wilford-geddings
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