11-238 Garand Picture of the Day - Peleliu

[Mark in Rochester]

A Marine kneels at the grave of SgtMaj Lawrence J. Letellier on Peleliu. The SgtMaj served with HQ Co, 2nd Bn, 5th Marines and was killed in action by a Japanese mortar explosion on D-Day, 15 September 1944. He was one of the 1,361 Marines and FMF medical personnel who died in the assault on Peleliu. USMC Photo

Sergeant Major Letellier, Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Division, was a veteran of the Guadalcanal Campaign. On 15 September 1944, he was killed in action during the US Marine assault on Peleliu Island. In a letter written prior to that action, he wrote to his spouse, "Well, darling, where I go from here I don"t know, but wherever it is and whenever it is, I"ll be in there fighting to the last. If anything should happen, I hope you"ll take it like a good Marine and . .