Born: 1921
Died: July 8, 1944
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (killed)
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations:
Silver Star, Purple Heart
With Dog Company:
Robert Newbury was one of the original members of Dog Company, 24th Marines. He proved his worth early on, and was assigned as a squad leader in the Second Machine Gun Platoon. He was promoted to corporal on January 11, 1944, and placed in charge of one of the platoon's sections.
Corporal Newbury fought through the battle of Namur, and was transferred to Baker Company in March, 1944.
With Baker Company:
Newbury became a squad leader in Baker Company's machine gun platoon. He fought through the battle of Saipan until July 8, 1944, when First Battalion became embroiled in a pitched battle with one of the last pockets of Japanese resistance north of the small costal village of Tanapag. There had been some firing along the battalion's skirmish line for most of the morning, but when the Marines advanced to within one hundred yards of the ocean they were stopped cold by furious Japanese gunfire from concealed positions.
Baker Company took several casualties, some of whom were trapped in the open. Corporal Newbury, seeing their plight, went out alone to rescue as many as he could. He was killed in the attempt. The men and officers who witnessed Newbury's actions felt he deserved the Navy Cross and put in an official recommendation, but somewhere along the line the decoration was reduced to a posthumous Silver Star. His bravery left a lasting impression on many, including Captain Frederic Stott who mentioned Newbury's "heroic act" in his booklet "Saipan Under Fire."
Robert Newbury was buried in Plot 5, Row 9, Grave 14 of the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan.