World War II Honoree

Lyman Moody Yarnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Ashland, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Eloyce Jacobo

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED BOOT CAMP AT PARIS ISLAND IN 1943. AFTER BOOT CAMP, RETURNED INVOLUNTARILY TO PARIS ISLAND AS A GI DI. AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT ASSIGNMENT, WAS TRANSFERRED TO CAMP LEJEUNE, AND TRAINED FOR SERVICE IN THE PIONEER BATTALION. THEN TRANSFERRED TO CAMP PENDLETON AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH MARINE DIVISION. FROM PENDLETON, WAS SENT TO THE PACIFIC. LANDED ON RED BEACH, IWO JIMA ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE FOR IWO JIMA WITH NO MAJOR INJURIES. LEFT IWO JIMA AND WAS AWAITING ASSIGNMENT NEAR MIDWAY WHEN THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED. WENT TO THE ISLAND OF KYUSHU WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES TO SASEBO AND NAGASAKI. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS ON APRIL 14, 1946. A MEMORABLE MOMENT WAS WHEN I ENCOUNTERED A JAPANESE SOLDIER AT A FOX HOLE. WE EXCHANGED RIFLE BLOWS IN HAND TO HAND COMBAT FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL JAPANESE GRENADES STARTED DROPPING AROUND US. WE THEN BECAME INSTANT FRIENDS AND RAN TOGETHER FOR SAFETY UNTIL HE WENT HIS WAY AND I WENT MINE NEVER TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN.