Laurence Schies Siddall, World War II CasualtyPorter County Data on World War II Casualties . . . .

Laurence Schies Siddall
Private First Class, Mortar Battalion, 5th Division, 27th Marines
Date of Birth: November 27, 1925
Date of Death: February 19, 1945
Cause of Death: Missing in Action (killed when an amphibious tractor landing on beach at Iwo Jima sustained a direct hit and sank)
Monument: Tablets of The Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Hometown: Valparaiso

Newspaper Notices:

Local Youth Is Declared Dead By Navy
Plan Memorial Service For Marine Lost In Iwo Jima Battle

P.F.C. Laurence Schies Siddall, of Valparaiso, member of the U. S. Marine Corps, reported missing in action in the invasion of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on Feb. 19, 1945, has been declared dead by the Navy department as of Feb. 20, 1946.

News of his death was confirmed in a message received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Siddall, 811 Napoleon St.

Memorial services for the dead marine will be held at St. Paul's Catholic church Thursday, Mar. 7, at 9 a. m.

P.F.C. Siddall was reported missing on D-Day, Feb. 19, 1945, when an amphibious tractor in which he was proceeding to the beach at Iwo Jima sustained a direct hit and sank. Many of the men were rescued and later reported to their commanding officer, but no word was ever received of Lawrence.

Attended VHS

The dead marine was born on Nov. 27, 1925, in Gary, and attended St. Mark's school there until the family moved to Valparaiso in April, 1939. He enlisted in the Marine Corps while a junior in Valparaiso high school.

He left for service on Sept. 16, 1943, and his boot training was obtained at San Diego, Calif., where he spent 10 months in the Mortar Battalion, Fifth Division, 27th Marines. He was sent to the Pacific theater in August, 1944.

Tribute to P.F.C. Siddal was paid by Capt. Stephen C. Cochrane, U. S. Marines, in a letter to his parents as follows: "Lawrence was always a good marine, a hard worker, and well like by officers and men alike with whom he came in contact."

Surviving besides the parents are three brothers, Charles, recently discharged from army service; Joseph, a marine, now in the Pacific area, and David, Valparaiso high school student, and three sisters, Mary, Theresa and Frances, at home.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 2, 1945; Volume 19, Page 1, Column 1


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Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook

 

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