Merrit Cecil Walton
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| Merrit Cecil Walton | |
|---|---|
| December 18, 1915 – August 7, 1942 (aged 26) | |
| Place of birth | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Place of death | Gavutu in the Solomon Islands |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1937–1942 |
| Rank | Platoon Sergeant |
| Unit | 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) |
| Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal |
| Awards | Navy Cross (posthumous) Purple Heart share of Presidential Unit Citation |
Merrit Cecil Walton (18 December 1915 – 7 August 1942) was born at Saint Paul, Minnesota and died a hero in battle at Gavutu in the Solomon Islands.
Contents |
[edit] Marine Corps career
Walton enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 19 May 1937 at San Francisco, California, and initially served at San Diego, California, before going to the Asiatic Station that autumn. As a member of the 4th Marine Regiment, quartered in the International Settlement of Shanghai, China, Walton witnessed part of the bloody battle that raged for that key city between Chinese and Japanese forces and, as such, was an early observer of Japanese aggression in the Far East. During his tour in China, he received promotion to private, 1st class, on 10 May 1939.
Returning to the United States in the autumn of 1940, Walton served successive tours of duty at the Marine barracks at Mare Island, Vallejo, California; the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey; Quantico, Virginia, and New River, North Carolina. He was promoted to Sergeant on 1 August 1941 and platoon sergeant on 8 April 1942.
[edit] Battle of Guadalcanal
Platoon Sergeant Walton was serving in a parachute battalion as part of the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) that was selected to land in the Solomons in August 1942. Companies A and B of that battalion landed on the island of Gavutu on the morning of 7 August 1942. The enemy, already alerted by the landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi, met the marines' frontal assault with a withering fire.
[edit] Awarded the Navy Cross
Although fully aware of the danger involved, Platoon Sergeant Walton volunteered to reconnoiter the position of a troublesome Japanese machine gun nest threatening his platoon's right flank. Once he had spotted the weapon's location, he led a daring attack during which the leathernecks silenced the gun. Mortally wounded, however, Platoon Sergeant Walton died later that same day. Posthumous awards accorded the sergeant included the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, and a share of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced).
[edit] Namesake
USS Walton (DE-361) was named in his honor. She was laid down on 21 March 1944 at Orange, Texas, by the Consolidated Steel Corp.; launched on 20 May 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Clara Olson, the mother of the late Sergeant Walton; and commissioned on 4 September 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Wilbur S. Wills, Jr., in command.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
