Born: February 21, 1925
Died: June 14, 2006
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (wounded), Tinian, Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
with Gold Star
Claude Chamberlain was a machine gunner with Baker Company, 24th Marines. He was present when the company was formed in August, 1943, and as a PFC was either a gunner or gunner's assistant on a light .30 caliber Browning machine gun.
Chamberlain fought in the battles of Namur and Saipan; he was wounded on July 6, 1944, and was temporarily hospitalized. He returned to the company on July 25, the day after the devastating banzai attack endured by First Battalion, and saw action through the rest of the battle of Tinian.
The following February, PFC Chamberlain landed on Iwo Jima - he celebrated his 20th birthday in a foxhole. He managed to endure until March 8, 1945, when he was wounded for a second time. After his evacuation, he was not returned to combat.
Claude Chamberlain died in Nashville in 2006.