Although the war in which you fought took place more than half-a-century ago your courage, your sacrifice and your patriotism reaches through the decades and inspires us today.

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.  ~Joseph Drake                                                                                                                                                                                                               Those who died in battle In alphabetical order.       A Company   B Company   C Company   D Company   H & S Company   PFC Robert E. Allison   Sgt Ervin P. Bodewig   PFC Billy J. Christian    PFC George P. Christopoulos   PFC Floyd T. Baldwin   PFC William Blatzheim   PFC George P. Buchanan   Pvt William D. Ray   PFC Robert Davis   PFC Cecil E. Larsen   Corp Freeman N. Bousman   PFC Rudolph G. Heibel   Sgt Henry Zweigel    PFC Berney J. Edmond       PFC Eugene P. Brady   PFC Clarence E. Hettenhausen       PFC Marvin W. Grantham        Corp Celcil L. Crimm    1st Lt. Calvin E. McClain       PFC Wayne J. King       Corp Russell C. Dettmann   PFC Ralph N. McCrory       PFC George W. Lybarger       PFC Donald J. Fiedler   PFC Robert M. O'Neil       Sgt Nicholas A. Manfred       Pvt Harry D. Frank   PFC Francis W. Stockwell       Sgt Sherman L. Strother       PFC William W. Hayes           PFC Eddie A. Williams       Sgt LeRoy F. Hesse           PFC Howard H. Zitnik        Capt Owen P. Lillie                   Sgt William T. McCartney                   Corp Richard W. Mussenbrock                   PFC Thomas R. O'Meara                    PFC Dean R. Petersen                   Corp Bruce A. Rylott                   Sgt Irwin G. Saville                    PFC Gerardo E. Strone

These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor - and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free.               USMC Capt. Owen Patrick Lillie, A Company, First Armored Amphibious Battalion, First Provisional Marine Brigade, EMF was killed in the line of duty against the enemy on Guam, Marianas islands July 21, 1944. Owen Patrick Lillie lost his life in the service of his country has been reported buried grave 23, plot one, Army, Navy and Marine Corps Cemetery, Guam islands.   On July 21, 1944 at the landing on yellow beach 1 & 2 Agat beach, Guam, A Company spearheading for the 22nd Marine met with disaster. Capt. Lillie, A company commanding officer, in tank A- 18 moved in to fill the ranks and took a direct hit on the muzzle of the 37- MM Gun. The explosion killed both Capt. Lillie and his radio operator, Sgt. LeRoy F. Hesse. A Company in this landing had 17 Marines killed and 21 wound. LT. Thomas J Garfield, A Company, himself wounded on Guam had this to say about his commanding officer, Capt. Lillie. "He was admired and respected by all who knew him. An exceedingly capable officer, his men loved him. I have a great sense of personal loss." We have been honored at First Armored Amphibian Battalion reunions in 1999 and 2002 to have as our guest Nancy Maureen Lillie Hardy, the daughter of Capt. Lillie, a daughter he never saw. Nancy has kept careful documentations of her father's letters, military records, etc... these catalogued into a book, which she has graciously shared with our Battalion. Capt. Lillie was laid to rest in a grave on Guam. In a letter to Lillie's wife, Major Louis Metzger wrote. "After the fighting was over I went to the place where Pat was laid to rest; it was on a low Hill overlooking the town of Agat with a beautiful view of the ocean. Each places clearly marked. Pat is still in the best company in the world." So say we all about those noble Marines we left behind. Grady Coker                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   USMC 1st Lt. Calvin Earl McClain Jr., First Armored Amphibian, First provisional Marine Brigade, FMF was killed in the line of duty against the enemy on Guam, Marianas islands July 21, 1944. He was awarded the Silver Star medal for bravery and the Purple Heart metal, posthumously. Originally buried on Guam he was brought home to rest in the New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery, Anderson, South Carolina in 1947.   On July 21, 1944 B Company of the First Armored Amphibian Tank Battalion leading the attack on the white beaches 1 & 2 at Agat beach, Guam for the fourth Marine's met with many problems. Advancing in land many of the tanks were stopped short by a variety of hazards while other tanks made the advance in land as prescribed by battle plan. Lt. McClain's tank made the deepest advance in land and met with heavy enemy opposition. Allen Post, the tanks gunner assisted a wounded Lt. McClain from his tank. In the ensuing period heavy enemy fire killed Lt. McClain. B Company suffered five Marines killed and 12 wounded. Allen Post received the SiCapt.. Carlson, B Company commander had this to say about, Lt. McClain," He was a good Marine with concern for his men and he work hard at his job." Calvin McClain Jr. was one of 12 children raised in a Christian home. Our research revealed that he had five sisters and two brothers still living, plus many nieces and nephews. His gravesite is well kept and visited by his extended family. Those of us who had the privilege to serve under him in the Second Platoon, B Company, First Armored Amphibian Battalion are pleased that our leader is so remembered. 1st Lt. McClain was a graduate of Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina he came into B Company, First Armored Tank Battalion with fellow officers, Edgar S.Carlson, Ed Dooley, Bill Wilson, and Irwin Buckner. McClain, Dooley and Buckner shared the same tent during training on Guadalcanal for the first invasion on Guam. Calvin McClain had the nickname of "Swampy", which he was fondly called. Ed Dooley had this to say about his fellow officer, "Swampy McClain"; "He was always serious and concerned about his responsibilities to the enlisted men in his platoon and his obligations to other members of Battalion. Lt. Dooley gave the ultimate tribute to Lt. McClain, "Every drop of his blood held the heritage of patriotism, he was proud of his past, he was an American and a fine Marine and I consider it to be one of the special events in my life to have known him and to have been his friend." His enlisted troops say, "God bless you Swampy, you were a good Marine and we were proud to serve with you."                                             " Rest in peace"