Born: September 28, 1926
Died: July 30, 1992
Campaigns Served: Saipan, Tinian (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
Bernard Elissagaray joined Able Company as a rifleman after the Namur campaign.
Elissagaray's official Marine Corps ID. Interestingly, his year of birth is reported as 1923; his discharge papers, which show evidence of a correction, list the year 1926.
He fought through Saipan, and was shot in the right leg on July 24, 1944, during the landing on Tinian. He was still two months short of his 18th birthday.
Elissagaray in the hospital; the box on his table contained the Purple Heart just visible on his chest.
Elissagaray was sent to a series of hospitals, and was discharged as a Corporal on November 5, 1945. He had a lengthy career in the Merchant Marine service, retiring in 1963.
Elissagaray died in California in 1992.
For Bernard Elissagaray's Marine Corps documents, click here
For his personal photograph collection, click here.
To see Elissagaray's collection of battle photos, click here. WARNING: some photos are EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.
Like many Marines, Bernard collected souvenirs during battle.
To see Japanese letters, click here.
To see Japanese battle flags and uniform insignia, click here
To see "photographs of the immediate families of Japanese soldiers who of their own free will chose to die" click here.
To see Elissagaray's collection of Japanese postcards, click here.
For other Japanese documents, including money, war bonds, maps, and mystery paperwork, click here.
This photo is simply labeled "Saipan." Evidently, someone in the company defied the restrictions against bringing personal cameras into the battle area. Elissagaray may be the blurry Marine on the left.
