Edward Horan joined the Marine Corps in September, 1942. Although comparatively old for a recruit (he was 29), Horan graduated from boot camp and was assigned to the weapons platoon of Able Company, 24th Marines.
As Able approached their first beachhead on Namur, February 1, 1944, a Japanese ammunition storehouse exploded, showering the approaching landing craft with bits of concrete, steel, and rock. The war became very real very quickly to the men of the Weapons platoon as Horan was knocked to the deck with a resounding clang. A falling piece of the blockhouse had struck his helmet, denting it so badly that a thin trickle of blood wound its way down his face. Corpsman Frank "Ski" Munski, presented with his first combat casualty, rounded on Horan and proclaimed "You can't go in," using the same tone of voice a bouncer at an upscale Broadway club might have used when confronted with an unruly patron. Horan, indignant, shot back, "Well, why not?" "Because you're bleeding!" said Ski. "Well, I ain't bleeding THAT bad," countered Horan, and the two argued back and forth as the landing craft ground up on the beach and dropped its doors. Since Ski and Horan were in the very front of the craft, the rest of the platoon had to wait until they'd finished their argument before hitting the beach under fire.
Ski prevailed, and Horan was evacuated to the USS Doyen - one of the first casualties Able Company would suffer in their extensive combat history.
Horan returned to the company on Maui, and participated in the battle of Saipan - after which he was promoted to Sergeant - and Tinian. He spent the winter on Maui with the company.
That February, another landing on another beachhead, this time Iwo Jima. The 24th landed on February 19, and immediately came under fire. Among their dead that day was Sergeant Horan.
Horan was buried on Iwo Jima; his present resting place is unknown. If you have any information on Edward Horan, please contact me.
As Able approached their first beachhead on Namur, February 1, 1944, a Japanese ammunition storehouse exploded, showering the approaching landing craft with bits of concrete, steel, and rock. The war became very real very quickly to the men of the Weapons platoon as Horan was knocked to the deck with a resounding clang. A falling piece of the blockhouse had struck his helmet, denting it so badly that a thin trickle of blood wound its way down his face. Corpsman Frank "Ski" Munski, presented with his first combat casualty, rounded on Horan and proclaimed "You can't go in," using the same tone of voice a bouncer at an upscale Broadway club might have used when confronted with an unruly patron. Horan, indignant, shot back, "Well, why not?" "Because you're bleeding!" said Ski. "Well, I ain't bleeding THAT bad," countered Horan, and the two argued back and forth as the landing craft ground up on the beach and dropped its doors. Since Ski and Horan were in the very front of the craft, the rest of the platoon had to wait until they'd finished their argument before hitting the beach under fire.
Ski prevailed, and Horan was evacuated to the USS Doyen - one of the first casualties Able Company would suffer in their extensive combat history.
Horan returned to the company on Maui, and participated in the battle of Saipan - after which he was promoted to Sergeant - and Tinian. He spent the winter on Maui with the company.
That February, another landing on another beachhead, this time Iwo Jima. The 24th landed on February 19, and immediately came under fire. Among their dead that day was Sergeant Horan.
Horan was buried on Iwo Jima; his present resting place is unknown. If you have any information on Edward Horan, please contact me.
Edward Horan joined the Marine Corps in September, 1942. Although comparatively old for a recruit (he was 29), Horan graduated from boot camp and was assigned to the weapons platoon of Able Company, 24th Marines.
As Able approached their first beachhead on Namur, February 1, 1944, a Japanese ammunition storehouse exploded, showering the approaching landing craft with bits of concrete, steel, and rock. The war became very real very quickly to the men of the Weapons platoon as Horan was knocked to the deck with a resounding clang. A falling piece of the blockhouse had struck his helmet, denting it so badly that a thin trickle of blood wound its way down his face. Corpsman Frank "Ski" Munski, presented with his first combat casualty, rounded on Horan and proclaimed "You can't go in," using the same tone of voice a bouncer at an upscale Broadway club might have used when confronted with an unruly patron. Horan, indignant, shot back, "Well, why not?" "Because you're bleeding!" said Ski. "Well, I ain't bleeding THAT bad," countered Horan, and the two argued back and forth as the landing craft ground up on the beach and dropped its doors. Since Ski and Horan were in the very front of the craft, the rest of the platoon had to wait until they'd finished their argument before hitting the beach under fire.
Ski prevailed, and Horan was evacuated to the USS Doyen - one of the first casualties Able Company would suffer in their extensive combat history.
Horan returned to the company on Maui, and participated in the battle of Saipan - after which he was promoted to Sergeant - and Tinian. He spent the winter on Maui with the company.
That February, another landing on another beachhead, this time Iwo Jima. The 24th landed on February 19, and immediately came under fire. Among their dead that day was Sergeant Horan.
Horan was buried on Iwo Jima; his present resting place is unknown. If you have any information on Edward Horan, please contact me.
As Able approached their first beachhead on Namur, February 1, 1944, a Japanese ammunition storehouse exploded, showering the approaching landing craft with bits of concrete, steel, and rock. The war became very real very quickly to the men of the Weapons platoon as Horan was knocked to the deck with a resounding clang. A falling piece of the blockhouse had struck his helmet, denting it so badly that a thin trickle of blood wound its way down his face. Corpsman Frank "Ski" Munski, presented with his first combat casualty, rounded on Horan and proclaimed "You can't go in," using the same tone of voice a bouncer at an upscale Broadway club might have used when confronted with an unruly patron. Horan, indignant, shot back, "Well, why not?" "Because you're bleeding!" said Ski. "Well, I ain't bleeding THAT bad," countered Horan, and the two argued back and forth as the landing craft ground up on the beach and dropped its doors. Since Ski and Horan were in the very front of the craft, the rest of the platoon had to wait until they'd finished their argument before hitting the beach under fire.
Ski prevailed, and Horan was evacuated to the USS Doyen - one of the first casualties Able Company would suffer in their extensive combat history.
Horan returned to the company on Maui, and participated in the battle of Saipan - after which he was promoted to Sergeant - and Tinian. He spent the winter on Maui with the company.
That February, another landing on another beachhead, this time Iwo Jima. The 24th landed on February 19, and immediately came under fire. Among their dead that day was Sergeant Horan.
Horan was buried on Iwo Jima; his present resting place is unknown. If you have any information on Edward Horan, please contact me.
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SGT US Marine Corps
World War II
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