Born: August 21, 1917
Died: December 1, 2006
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Captain
Decorations:
Navy Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Gold Star
Frederic Stott was born in Taylor Hall on the campus of Phillips Academy, Andover. His father, Frederic Sr, was an English teacher at the prestigious high school, and his son grew up on the campus, graduating in 1936 and going on to attend Amherst College.
After completing his college education, it looked as if Stott would follow in his father's footsteps. He accepted a teaching position at Governor Drummer Academy, but resigned in 1942 to join the Marine Corps.
With Dog Company:
"Fireball" Stott completed his officer training in September, 1942, and was assigned to Dog Company, 24th Marines. He led a heavy machine gun platoon into combat on Namur.
With Headquarters Company:
After the dissolution of Dog Company, Stott was reassigned to Battalion HQ as a liaison officer. On Saipan, he showed such skill in coordinating infantry and armor attacks that he was awarded the Navy Cross:
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Frederick A. Stott (0-14173), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Liaison Officer of the First Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, 17 and 18 June 1944. Personally contacting the various commanders in the front lines at a critical time on the third day in this decisive battle, First Lieutenant Stott efficiently organized a coordinated attack by tank, infantry and amphibian tank units, maintaining this coordination while riding in the tank commander's vehicle to confer with the infantry officers, aiding them in directing the tanks to specific targets and in maintaining proper speed and course. On the following day, he helped coordinate a similar attack while riding in an amphibian tank and, although considerably shaken when the tank was set afire by a large caliber shell, left the burning tank and proceeded on foot to assist in bringing the attack to a successful conclusion. His initiative, leadership and determination in the face of grave hazards were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Despite the dangers and difficulty inherent in such a task, Stott would later recall that "For diversion I rode that morning in a gunner's pit and managed to sandwich in some enjoyable machine gun firing. Once when the troops on top seemed to be lagging, I climbed out on top of the tank and semaphored to find out the cause for delay. After considerable wig-wagging, we received an answer so I climbed back in and resumed firing. It wasn't until we pulled back out, the motors were cut, and we could talk again, that another tankman pointed out three bullet marks on my protective gun shield where a sniper had barely missed his target. From then on I semaphored less conspicuously."
Shortly therafter, his tank was set ablaze by Japanese fire. Stott clambered out, more dazed that hurt, and was fortified by "liberal doses of Doc Porter's Nipponese whiskey."
With Charlie Company:
On June 23, Stott was transferred to Charlie Company to replace the executive officer, killed the previous day. He held this post until July 3, when Captain Horace Parks was evacauted with a bad case of dengue fever; Stott assumed command of the company until July 12, when Parks returned from the hospital. Stott fought through the remainder of Saipan and Tinian with his new company, and would later recall these experiences in vivid detail in a pamphlet entitled "Saipan Under Fire." [Stott's accounts feature heavily in the Saipan section of this website].
Frederic Stott returned to his position as battalion Liaison Officer, and accepted a promotion to Captain. He served on Iwo Jima as Liaison Officer until February 25, 1945, when he was once again assigned to Charlie Company - again replacing the company commander (Major William Esterline was transferred to the Third Battalion).
He was leading an attack on March 1, 1945, when a knee mortar shell landed close behind him. A fragment of shrapnel fractured Stott's leg, and he was carried to the beach and evacuated. His combat career was over. While on the ship, he penned an article entitled "Ten Days on Iwo Jima," which was published in the Marine Corps magazine Leatherneck.
After his discharge, he married Georganne Soutar and fathered two children, Frederic and Peter. They lived in California for several years, and moved back to Andover in 1951. Stott worked in the alumni affairs office, rising to the post of Director of Development. An avid outdoorsman, Stott was active with the Appalachian Mountain Club and once made a trek to the base of Mount Everest. Even into the 1990s, Stott was attending the Iditarod and sending back articles and photographs for publication.
Frederic Stott died at the age of 89, active to the very last. An obituary read, in part, "[his] life was marked by a passion for outdoor adventure and conservation—as well as remarkable service to his community, various institutions and causes, his Andover and Amherst College alma maters, and his country."