Born: June 15, 1925
Died: July 8, 1944
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (killed)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
DeWitt Dietrich enlisted in Philadelphia at the age of 17. He attended boot camp at Parris Island, and was assigned to service at the Marine base at Quantico, where he was part of a reserve detachment.
"Dee" was sent to Camp Pendleton, California, where he joined Able Company. At just 18 years old, he held the rank of Private First Class and carried a BAR.
The company was undergoing advanced training in preparation for being sent to combat, and like many others, Dietrich initially welcomed the announcement that they'd be practicing beach landings from rubber assault boats. In reality, the boats were clumsy and had a tendency to tip over, dumping everyone into the shallow surf, where they'd have to collect themselves, chase down the loose boat, and try again.
After nearly a week of frustrating effort, wet dungarees, and sandy weapons, the company learned they would be making a landing at night from ships offshore. They were taken about three miles out, and, as the weather looked calm, threw their boats over the side and climbed in.
Dietrich was in a boat with Al Perry and Platoon Sergeant John Yaniga. Yaniga was an "old horse marine" who was universally disliked and was a strict taskmaster who did not always practice what he preached. As the ships pulled away in the darkness, a strong wind began whipping up the waves. Yaniga panicked, screaming "I can't swim!" over and over at the top of his considerable lungs. It was unnerving to the men, and Dietrich nudged Perry asking - half with relish, half with concern - if he should just knock Yaniga unconscious.
Then Yaniga fell overboard. Putting aside his animosity, Dietrich threw down his weapon and gear and dove into the choppy ocean after him. He had barely cleared the boat when another swell capsized the craft, dumping everyone into the water.
Dietrich reached Yaniga, who was completely helpless and in a state of shock, and roughly dragged him over to a small group that was clustering around Perry. Luckily, each of the upset Marines managed to shed their gear and escaped drowning. They spent a long night huddled together, treading water and holding onto Perry and Dietrich when they became fatigued.
At daybreak, they could see rescue boats trying to reach them, but the surf was still too high. Finally, they could feel their feet touch ground about a half mile from the shore, and the whole bedraggled group managed to stumble ashore - with Dietrich still lugging the much subdued Sergeant Yaniga.
DeWitt Dietrich was quite happy never to set foot in one of the rubber boats again. He boarded much larger APAs in future campaigns, and fought on Namur and on Saipan.
On the morning of July 8, 1944, the remnants of Able Company checked in along their line as they prepared for another grueling day of combat. They found Dietrich lying in the field with a bullet hole in his back. He had been killed during the night.
Dietrich was buried in Grave 929, Row 1, Plot 5 of the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery. In 1949, he was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 12, Site 7419.
Photo by Anne Cady, FindAGrave.com volunteer