Lee Marvin
View attachment 7731006
World War II
World War II Picture of Private Lee Marvin, USMC, as listed in the "Red Book", 24th Regiment, 4th Marine Division, published in 1943
Marvin left school at 18 to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on August 12, 1942. He served with the
4th Marine Division in the
Pacific Theater during World War II.
[6] While serving as a member of "I" Company,
3rd Battalion,
24th Marines,
4th Marine Division, he was wounded in action on June 18, 1944, during the assault on
Mount Tapochau in the
Battle of Saipan, during which most of his company were casualties.
[7] He was hit by machine gun fire, which severed his
sciatic nerve,
[8] and then was hit again in the foot by a sniper.
[9] After over a year of medical treatment in naval hospitals, Marvin was given a medical discharge with the rank of
private first class. He previously held the rank of corporal, but had been demoted for troublemaking.
[9]
Marvin's decorations include the
Purple Heart Medal, the
Presidential Unit Citation, the
American Campaign Medal, the
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the
World War II Victory Medal, and the
Combat Action Ribbon.
[10]