World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
William Charles 'Chuck' Erler
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Columbus, Ohio
Honored By
Pearl Thomas
Enlisted on December 9, 1942 and earned the marksmanship badge and qualified as an Expert Rifleman during basic training. He was shipped overseas on July 20, 1944. As a member of the 4th Battalion of the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, it was ultimately seen as impractical for the Pacific Theater of Operations and he was transferred to the 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. The Division was formed for the upcoming landings on the island of Iwo Jima. On February 19, 1945, he went ashore. He was killed in action at Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945 at the age of 21. Received, posthumously, the Purple Heart.