Bonus

[Snafu]

Col. USMC Francis Fenton (Francis I. Fenton) at the funeral of his son, Private 1st Class Mike Fenton (Mike Fenton), who died on Okinawa.



Read more: Histomil.com View topic - Bundesarchive Photos 1933 - 1945..+ all fields of WWII

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bill Hollinger]

Oh my God I can not think of a more horrible thing to be put through.

[WarPig1976]

Very powerful photograph, heart breaking....

[browningautorifle]

One thing that I had noticed first thing, the grave is full of water. That would bother me a bit, trying to bury one of my guys like that. I couldn't imagine going home after and explaining to my wife how I attended my son's funeral. My boys are just that age too...

[Bill Hollinger]

Hey Jim, look close. I don't believe that is water. I believe it has been blurred for some reason???

[WarPig1976]

No, that's water,,,

[browningautorifle]

It sure look like water. I've been posted to places like that. Water table is exceptionally high...

[Bill Hollinger]

That just makes it suck all the worse!

[Mark in Rochester]

In 1945, Col. Francis “Ike” Fenton, 1st Marine Division’s engineer officer, and his youngest son, Pvt. Michael Fenton of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, served together in combat.

A photograph of the two — delayed by the war — accompanied a story in the May 31, 1945, edition of the San Diego Union. It showed the son holding his M1 rifle beside his father. The caption noted that Okinawa was the son’s first combat experience, while his father had been on Peleliu in 1944.

The story reported that the colonel said, “Hello, son,” while the private said, “Glad to see you, sir.” They talked about mail from home.

Another photograph taken not long after showed the colonel, a helmet between his arm and body, kneeling in the dirt with his head bowed over a stretcher. A U.S. flag covered his son, who was killed May 7, 1945, while repelling a Japanese counterattack.

The faces of the men in the background register the horrible sadness of the moment.


Upon his retirement in 1949, Col. Fenton was advanced to brigadier general because of his combat record. He died in 1978.

The two leathernecks were separated beyond their deaths — Brig. Gen. Fenton is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. In 1948, he requested that his son’s remains be moved to a national cemetery stateside. The younger Fenton is buried at Oahu, Hawaii’s “Punchbowl” — the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Fenton’s oldest son, Francis Fenton Jr., was also the subject of a famous photograph. He commanded Baker Company during the Korean War, the same unit in which his younger brother served and died during World War II.

The photograph captures a weary Capt. “Ike” Fenton, whose radio had just expired, being told his unit was low on ammunition.

[Snafu]

Mark
Are there photos that go with this?