Born: unknown
Died:
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (wounded), Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Second Lieutenant
Decorations:
Purple Heart with Gold Star
With Charlie Company:
James Blake, a pre-war Regular Marine, was one of the original members of Charlie Company, 24th Marines. By the time of the regiment's dedication, he was serving as a platoon sergeant.
Blake participated in the fighting on Namur and made the June 15, 1944 landing on Saipan; he was wounded later that same day and evacuated.
After his release from the hospital, James Blake received a field commission as a second lieutenant, and an assignment to the battalion's Headquarters Company.
With HQ Company:
Second Lieutenant Blake became one of the battalion's liaison officers in the fall of 1944. He served with the Battalion Headquarters section until wounded a second time on February 23, 1945, while fighting on Iwo Jima. Blake was again evacauted, and transferred to a hospital's care on March 14, 1945. He would not return to combat.