Uncle Louis' Letter

Louis Essid died saving his comrades in arms outside of Naha Okinawa in 1945. This was the final major island campaign of the Pacific war.

He was a Navy Corpsman attached to the 6th Marine Division. The letter that his mother and father, Sam and Montura Essid, got from the Marines was thought to be lost. When I was scanning the photo of them with an officer who presented them with Uncle Louis' medals and the letter, I was able to use Photoshop to blow up the picture and retype the text.  Sadly, the medals are lost but not the memories and family grief over a young man who died far too soon, in defense of his nation. Semper Fidelis, Joe Essid Jr. July 2018

HEADQUARTERS

SIXTH MARINE  DIVISION

IN THE FIELD

In the name of the president of the United States, the Commanding General, Sixth Marine Division, take pleasure in awarding the Bronze Star Medal to

PHARMACIST’S MATE THIRD CLASS

LOUIS ESSID, UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

 For service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the Japanese Enemy on OKINAWA SHIMA, RYUKYU ISLANDS, on 17 April 1945 and 23 April 1945.  As a Naval hospital corpsman attached to a Marine rifle company, Pharmacist’s Mate ESSID on 17 April 1945 voluntarily and without hesitation moved through intense enemy fire to the aid of a wounded man. He administered first aid while plainly exposed to the enemy and under enemy fire assisted in carrying the man to safety. On 23 April 1945, when one squad of the platoon to which he was attached was cut off and isolated by enemy fire, Pharmacist’s Mate ESSID moved and coolly, while under direct observation and fire from the enemy, administered to the wounded and remained in the area until troops in the rear were able to push forward and assist in the evacuation of the casualties. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Lemuel C. Shepherd  Jr.

Major General

United States Marine Corps