Born: August 31, 1920
Died: April 27, 1986
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (sick), Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations:
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Adrian DeWitt was one of the original members of Charlie Company. As private first class, he fought as a scout/sniper in the battle of Namur. He was promoted to corporal in the spring of 1944, and given command of a squad.
DeWitt was positioned near one of his company's machine guns one night on Saipan when the Japanese began a fierce banzai attack. After what seemed like and eternity of confused shooting, shouting, and hurling grenades, the enemy was repulsed. Angry at the failure of the charge - and now knowing where the Marine lines were - the Japanese began to drop mortars among the crouched Marines. A shell exploded near the hole of 18-year-old Glenn Buzzard, and a large sliver of shrapnel struck the gunner to the ground. DeWitt jumped out of his foxhole and hurried over to help. He pulled an eight-inch piece of metal out of Buzzard's shoulder, and applied sulfa powder from his first aid kit. The metal was mostly spent and the heat had cauterized the wound, but still DeWitt helped Buzzard get to a jeep for a ride to the aid station.
Corporal DeWitt fell seriously ill on July 18, while the company rested up for the invasion of Tinian. He was evacuated and hospitalized, not returning to the company until the fall of 1944.
DeWitt was leading his squad on Iwo Jima when he was wounded. The date was March 2; the second day of Charlie Company's nigh-suicidal attacks against Iwo's Meat Grinder.
Adrian DeWitt was evacuated, and never returned to combat. He married in 1948; by the time of his death in 1986 he had two children and five grandchildren.