World War II Honoree

Marvin H. Gerrol

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Washington, New Jersey

Honored By

Valerie M. Tinnes

Relationship

Family Member

RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT KEESLER FIELD, MISSISSIPPI AND WAS STATIONED AT FORT GEORGE MEADE, MARYLAND. PRIVATE; MEMBER OF A MACHINE GUN COMPANY. LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA IN SEPTEMBER 1943. STATIONED IN SICILY AND IN MARCH 1944, PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD IN ITALY. IT WAS THERE HE SUFFERED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS FOR WHICH HE LATER RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART. IN AUGUST 1944, HE WAS WITH AMERICAN TROOPS WHICH INVADED SOUTHERN FRANCE. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1944, HE RECEIVED A SECOND WOUND FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED A CLUSTER FOR HIS ORIGINAL PURPLE HEART. AFTER TREATMENT FOR THIS WOUND, HE ENTERED THE RANKS, SERVING UNTIL HIS DEATH IN BATTLE SIX WEEKS LATER. HE SERVED UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL PATCH WHO LED THE AMERICAN INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE.