DOB/DOD: July 13, 1926 (New Haven, CT) – March 12, 1945; 18 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Born in New Haven. Also lived in Lee, Florida, and High Point, North Carolina.
ENLISTMENT: October 18, 1943, in Washington, D.C.
SERVICE NUMBER: 519032UNIT: Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0746, Automatic Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to Edwin Sr. (1897-1959) and Marjorie E. Stone Voorhees (1905-1998). One brother, Robert S. (1930-). Father Edwin Sr. was a graduate of Yale University, Class of 1927. 1, 2
OTHER: Edwin Sr. was decorated by the 128th Division of the French Army on September 8, 1918 (Croix De Guerre) – the citation covers six days (August 17 to August 23) during the Aisne Offensive. He was gassed in Vouty, France, on July 13, 1918. In his WWI questionnaire after the war, he said, “that war is a horrible, inhuman, ungodly means to an end, and should be eliminated permanently if it can possible and honorably be done.”
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island in late 1943. Training at Ordnance School and Repair Depot, Quantico, Virginia, in early 1944. Assigned initially to the Fifth Replacement Draft, San Diego, and then his final assignment to the 4th Marine Division, 25th Marines, 2nd Battalion in early 1945. 4 Died from wounds to the head. 3
Contributed by Judy Grabar, 1st cousin of Private Voorhees.
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 34, Grave 1696. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on June 17, 1948, in Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Drive, Arlington, Virginia; Section 12, Grave 3905. 3Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://ancestry.com
3 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
4 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/