Born: December 14, 1917
Died: March 9, 1945
Campaigns Served: Iwo Jima (killed)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
Eddie Bookwalter was a draftee who chose the Marine Corps as his branch of service. He joined Able Company after the Tinian campaign.
Bookwalter was a big, heavily-muscled man, who had been a former hopeful for the Olympic swimming team. With the bravado of one who had not been in combat, he claimed he wanted to wrestle a Japanese soldier to death, and often reminded his friend and squad leader Alva Perry to find him a big, strong one.
One can be sure that Bookwalter's opinion changed after he landed on Iwo Jima. He fought well and seemed to be one of the lucky ones to make it through the battle unscathed.
On March 9, 1945, Bookwalter and Perry watched as their shattered company was merged with the remnants of Company C of their battalion. With the additions, Able Company only numbered 135 effectives. Their former commander, "Buck" Schechter, returned to lead them, temporarily leaving his position on battalion staff. The two comforted themselves by thinking that the battle must surely be close to over, and Bookwalter promised Perry that, when they got home, Perry could join as a partner on a fishing boat operated by Eddie and his brother. That sounded perfect to Perry, who was a veteran of four campaigns.
As the day's fighting drew to a close, Perry and Bookwalter found themselves pinned by a Japanese sniper. The sniper was exceptionally good - better than the Americans - and they were barely able to return fire, let alone move.
A tanker pulled up, and the hatch flipped open. An incredulous voice asked why the two were cowering in a hole when the island had been secured. The hell with that, said Perry - take out that sniper, and we'll get out and celebrate with you.
The tank sighted up and shot off three rounds of high explosive. "We got him!" yelled the tanker. "I saw his body fly through the air."
Bookwalter and Perry jumped up, threw down their weapons, and began dancing. Weeks of hiding and scrounging for cover under constant fire were forgotten as the two began celebrating.
Suddenly, Perry was doused in blood. Bookwalter went limp. A shell fragment had severed his jugular vein, and he died within seconds.
Eddie Bookwalter is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.
Photo by "pls," FindAGrave.com photo volunteer.