World War II Honoree

Edward Earl Gyatt

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Syracuse, New York

Honored By

John Peterson

HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILE SERVING WITH THE 1ST MARINE RAIDER BATTALION DURING THE BATTLE OF TULAGI, PART OF THE INITIAL LANDINGS OF THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN. PART OF THE INVASION FORCE THAT WENT ASHORE ON TULAGI ON 7 AUGUST 1942, HE REPORTED THE APPROACH OF A JAPANESE COUNTERATTACK FORCE ON HIS ADVANCED POSITION THAT NIGHT. WITH UTTER DISREGARD FOR HIS PERSONAL SAFETY, HE REMAINED AT HIS POST AND INFLICTED HEAVY DAMAGE ON THE ENEMY UNTIL HE WAS KILLED BY A HAND GRENADE. FOR HIS GALLANTRY AND COURAGE ON TULAGI, HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR POSTHUMOUSLY. THE DESTROYER USS GYATT DD-712 WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR.