Print plaque Printing Tips

World War II Honoree

World War II Veteran

Jesse James 'Jim' Farmer

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Devine, Texas

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, Commander, MOPH Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

JOINED MARINES ON JULY 17, 1943. SENT TO SAN DIEGO FOR BOOT CAMP. ASSIGNED TO TENT CAMP #1, COMPANY G, 2ND BATTALION, 25TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE DIVISION, AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNED TO ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY 12, 1944 THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 1945; MARSHALL ISLANDS JANUARY 31, 1944 THROUGH FEBRUARY 27, 1944; HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, MARCH 10, 1944, THROUGH MAY 18, 1944 AND AUGUST 11, 1944 THROUGH JANUARY 15, 1945; AND MARIANA ISLANDS, JUNE 15, 1944 THROUGH AUGUST 4, 1944. ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945 SERVED IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ON KWAJALEIN, SAIPAN, TINIAN AND IWO JIMA. WAS IN THE FIRST WAVE ON SAIPAN AND WAS UNDER HEAVY FIRE WHEN THE FLAME THROWER GUNNER WAS WOUNDED. HE TOOK OVER AND INJURED HIS BACK WHILE LEAVING THE BOAT. TOOK TWO ENEMY MACHINE GUN BULLETS THROUGH HIS HELMET WITHOUT LEAVING A SCRATCH. WHILE LANDING ON IWO JIMA DURING THE FIFTH WAVE, HAD A BULLET PASS BETWEEN HIS BACK AND PACK LEAVING ONLY A RED MARK. LATER IN THE DAY A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL PASSED THROUGH HIS UPPER ARM SEVERING AN ARTERY. THIS WAS A GREAT DEAL OF COMBAT FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS JUST TURNING EIGHTEEN. TREATED FOR WOUNDS ON A MEDICAL SHIP AND WAS SENT TO GUAM TO RECOVER. ON RECOVERING, WAS SENT BACK TO THE UNIT IN HAWAII WHERE THEY WERE TRAINING FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. SOON V-J DAY CAME AND THE WAR WAS OVER. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON OCTOBER 29, 1945. RECEIVED PURPLE HEART MEDAL FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED DURING THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA.