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- [S927] Obituary.
PFC. LAWRENCE BIGLER KILLED ON IWO JIMA
MRS. ALMA BIGLER HIGHMAN, OF WOODSFIELD ROUTE 2, RECEIVED A
TELEGRAM FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT ON FRIDAY STATING HER SON PFC.
LAWRENCE P. BIGLER WAS KILLED IN ACTION MARCH 11TH. ON IWO JIMA. THE
TELEGRAM READS: "DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU YOUR SON PFC. LAWRENCE P.
BIGLER, USMC WAS KILLED IN ACTION MARCH 11 ON IWO JIMA VOLCANO ISLAND
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY AND SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY. REMAINS
REPORTED BURIED IN GRAVE NO. 1690, PLOT NO. 1, ROW NO. 34, 4TH. MARINE
CEMETERY AT IWO JIMA. PLEASE ACCEPT HEARTFELT SYMPATHY. LETTER
FOLLOWS.--- A. A. VANDERGRIFT, GEN. U. S. M. C. , COM. OF MARINE
CORPS."
PFC. BIGLER WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN 20 YEARS OLD IN JUNE, WAS A LIGHT
MACHINE GUNNER WITH THE 4TH. DIVISION OF THE MARINES AND ENLISTED IN
THE MARINE CORPS. AT CINCINNATI, AUGUST 25, 1942, AT THE AGE OF 17. HE
TOOK HIS "BOOT" TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND S. C., WITH ADDITIONAL
TRAINING AT NEW RIVER N. C., AND ELIZABETH CITY, N. C. HE LATER WAS
TRANSFERED TO SAN DIEGO, CALIF. WHERE HE LEFT FOR THE PACIFIC AUG. 4,
1944. THE LAST LETTER RECEIVED FROM HIM WAS DATED FEB. 6 IN WHICH HE
STATED HE WAS ON BOARD SHIP GOING INTO COMBAT.
HE WORE THE EXPERT RIFLEMAN BADGE, SHARPSHOOTER'S MEDAL AND TWO
CAMPAIGN RIBBONS, THE ATLANTIC PATROL BAR AND ATLANTIC COAST DEFENSES.
HE WAS HOME ON FURLOUGH TWICE, THE LAST TIME BEING IN JANURARY, 1944.
SURVIVING BESIDE HIS MOTHER, ARE HIS STEP- FATHER, A. H. HIGHMAN,
TWO SISTERS, MRS. THELMA BLANCHARD, OF CANTON, AND MISS GRACE, OF THE
HOME; ONE BROTHER, GILBERT BIGLER, OF CANTON; ONE HALF-BROTHER, RAY
HIGHMAN, OF THE HOME; AND HIS GRANDMOTHER, MRS. EMMA MENKEL, OF
WOODSFIELD.
THIS IS THE SECOND WOODSFIELD BOY WHO MADE THE SACRIFICE OF LIFE
FOR OUR NATION AT IWO JIMA. THE HEARTFELT SYMPATHY OF ALL IS EXTENDED
TO THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.
PFC. BIGLER DIES TO SAVE PLATOON
BY SERGEANT BILL HENGEN, 3744 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH, MINNEAPOLIS,
MINN., A MARINE CORPS. COMBAT CORRESPONDENT, FORMALLY OF THE
MINNEAPOLIS STAR JOURNAL.
SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC.----(DELAYED, PENDING NOTIFICATION OF
NEXT OF KIN) ---- HOW A WOODSFIELD, OHIO, MARINE GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE
A PLATOON ON IWO JIMA WAS REVEALED BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
PLATOON. MARINE SERGEANT MEARLL K. SHELTER, 876 WRIGHT AVENUE,
ALLIANCE, OHIO.
PRIVATE FIRST LAWRENCE P. BIGLER OF ROUTE 2, WOODSFIELD, WHO WAS
UNKNOWN TO THE MEN HE SAVED, PICKED UP A BAR (BROWNING AUTOMATIC
RIFLE) AND CHARGED FORWARD TO BLAST A JAP POCKET THAT HAD PINNED DOWN
A PLATOON OF THE 25TH. MARINE REGIMENT. BIGLER WAS KILLED BUT THE
PLATOON WAS ABLE TO WITHDRAW.
LATE IN THE IWO CAMPAIGN, A COMPANY WAS ORDERED TO MAKE CONTACT
WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. THE TERRAIN BRISTLED WITH JAP CAVES.
" THE GROUND WAS SO HARD TO COVER THAT ONLY ONE MAN AT A TIME
COULD MOVE ALONG THE RIDGE." SHELTER SAID. " WE STARTED OUT AND THE
JAPS OPENED UP. OUR CONTACT MAN WAS KILLED. WE WERE PINNED DOWN, AND
IT WAS GETTING PLENTY HOT. OF THE 27 MEN WHO HAD STARTED OUT, ONLY 15
WERE STILL OFF THE CASUALITY LIST," SHELTER CONTINUED.
THE ORDER WAS GIVEN TO WITHDRAW. BUT THE JAP FIRE POWER WAS SUCH
THAT TO MOVE AT ALL WOULD BRING ABOUT MORE CASUALTIES. ONE PARTICULAR
SPOT WAS CAUSING MOST OF THE TROUBLE.
" WE STARTED TO EDGE OUT OF THE SITUATION THE BEST WE COULD WHEN
THIS FELLOW (BIGLER) ON OUR RIGHT, A DEMOLITION MAN, DROPPED THE
SATCHEL CHARGE HE WAS CARRYING AND CHARGED FORWARD, PICKING UP A
BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE," SHELTER SAID.
BIGLER USED HIS WEAPON ON THE JAP POCKET AND MOVED FORWARD AS HE
FIRED.
THE PLATOON WAS ABLE TO WITHDRAW, BUT IT LOST SIGHT OF BIGLER.
" WE FOUND BIGLER LATER," SAID SHELTER. " HE HAD BEEN KILLED, BUT
AROUND HIM WERE FIVE DEAD JAPS. "
" THE FELLOWS IN OUR PLATOON WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE DID. "
POSTHUMOUS CITATION FOR PVT. L. P. BIGLER
AWARD TO BE PRESENTED TO HIS MOTHER AT SPECIAL AUXILIARY MEETING
A MEETING OF SPECIAL INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
WILL BE HELD IN THE LEGION HALL TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14. AN
OFFICER FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT WILL BE HERE TO PRESENT TO MRS. ALMA
HIGHMAN THE SILVER STAR MEDAL WITH CITATION, POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED HER
SON, THE LATE PVT. 1ST. CLASS LAWRENCE P. BIGLER, WHO PAID THE SUPREME
SACRIFICE FOR HIS COUNTRY AT IWO JIMA ON MARCH 11, 1945. INVITATIONS
HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO THE OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AND OFFICERS
OF THE VETREANS OF FOREIGN WARS AND TO THE IMMEDIATE FAMILIES. ALL
AUXILIARY MEMBERS ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO BE PRESENT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
THE MEMORY OF THIS HERO.
SALES TAX STAMPS WILL BE COUNTED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
EVENING. THESE STAMPS ARE COLLECTED AND COUNTED IN EVERY UNIT IN THE
STATE IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY. THE MONEY DERIVED FROM THE STAMPS IS
SENT TO DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AND USED FOR THE VETERANS WHO ARE IN
THE VETERANS HOSPITALS. WHEEL CHAIRS, PIANOS, ROBES, CANOPIES, AND
LAWN CHAIRS ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
HAS PROVIDED FOR THE BOYS FROM THE SALES TAX MONEY. ANY AUXILIARY
MEMBER WILL BE GLAD TO RECEIVE YOUR STAMPS AND SEE THAT THEY ARE USED
FOR THIS WORTHY CAUSE.
MISS CLARA WEBER IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOSTESS COMMITTEE AND WILL BE
ASSISTED BY FLORENCE BERRY, HELENA SWINGLE, ALBERTA LANDERFELD,
ELIZABETH CALDWELL, MINNIE DELONG AND LILLIE RING.
FUNERAL RITES FOR PRIVATE L. P. BIGLER
SERVICES TO BE HELD SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH MILITARY HONORS
THE BODY OF PFC. LAWRENCE PHILLIP BIGLER JR. IS THE FIRST VETERAN
OF WW II TO BE RETURNED HERE AND ARRIVED THIS THURSDAY MORNING FROM
COLUMBUS ACCOMPANIED BY A MILITARY ESCORT. THE REMAINS WERE TAKEN TO
THE HOME OF HIS MOTHER MRS. A. H. HIGHMAN OF NORTH PAUL STREET TO
REMAIN THERE UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING AND THEN TAKEN TO THE GALBRAITH
FUNERAL HOME.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT THE FUNERAL HOME AT 2:00
O'CLOCK SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN CHARGE OF REV. WILLIAM M. MILLER WHO WAS
A CHAPLIN IN WW II
AND THE VETERANS OF THE PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS. PALLBEARERS WILL
INCLUDE MEN WHO FOUGHT WITH HIM IN THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA. INTERMENT
WILL BE IN OAKLAWN CEMETERY.
LAWRENCE PHILLIP BIGLER JR. WAS BORN JUNE 20, 1925, AT AKRON
OHIO. HE WAS THE SON OF LAWRENCE PHILLIP BIGLER AND ALMA MENKEL
BIGLER. HIS FATHER PRECEDED HIM IN DEATH IN JANUARY, 1934. AT THE
DEATH OF HIS FATHER THE FAMILY RETURNED TO WOODSFIELD, THEIR FORMER
HOME. IT WAS HERE LAWRENCE JR. RECEIVED HIS SCHOOLING EXECPT FOR THE
LAST YEAR WHEN HE ATTENDED GRAYSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
HE ENLISTED IN THE MARINES AUGUST 25, 1942 AT THE AGE OF
SEVENTEEN. HE WAS SENT TO HONOLULU IN AUGUST 1944 WHERE HE REMAINED
TILL FEBRUARY 1945 WHEN HE AND MEMBERS OF THE 4TH. MARINE DIVISION
WERE SENT TO IWO JIMA. IT WAS HERE HE WAS KILLED WHILE ENGAGED IN
BATTLE. HE DIED MARCH 11, 1945. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, THE
SILVER STAR, AND THE VICTORY MEDAL OF WW II. HE WAS A TRUE MARINE AND
GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE HIS COMRADES. THREE YEARS FROM THE DAY HE WAS
KILLED HE WAS ENROUTE HOME FOR BURIAL.
HE LEAVES TO MOURN HIS DEATH, HIS MOTHER, MRS. ALMA BIGLER
HIGHMAN; ONE BROTHER, GILBERT BIGLER, OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA; TWO
SISTERS, GRACE OF DAYTON, OHIO AND THELMA BLANCHARD OF SAN DIMAS,
CALIFORNIA, ONE HALF BROTHER, RAY OF THE HOME; HIS STEP FATHER
HAMILTON HIGHMAN, TWO GRANDMOTHERS, MRS EMMA MENKEL, OF WOODSFIELD AND
MRS. ANNA BIGLER OF STUBENVILLE. OHIO; FOUR NIECES, AUNTS AND UNCLES
AND A HOST OF OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
ATTEND FUNERAL OF PFC. BIGLER
THOSE FROM A DISTANCE ATTENDING THE FUNERAL OF PFC. LAWRENCE
BIGLER INCLUDED: MISS GRACE BIGLER, A SISTER, OF DAYTON; GILBERT
BIGLER, A BROTHER AND LITTLE DAUGHTER KATHLEEN OF HUNTINGTON, IND.;
MR. AND MRS. PAUL GUSTELY, JAMES MENKEL OF AKRON; MRS FORREST MOORE OF
CANTON; MRS. ANNA BIGLER, MRS ANNA BYERS AND DAUGHTER, ANNE, MR. AND
MRS. JOHN BIGLER, MR. AND MRS ROY BIGLER, AND MR. AND MRS. HARRY ENGEL
ALL OF STUBENVILLE. ALSO HERE FOR THE FUNERAL WAS MERELE SHELTER OF
ALLIANCE. MR. SHELTER SERVED WITH PFC. BIGLER IN IWO JIMA AND TOLD THE
FAMILY HE IS LIVING TODAY DUE TO THE HEROISM OF PFC. BIGLER WHEN HE
GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE OTHERS.
BODY OF PFC. BIGLER TO BE BROUGHT HERE
THE BODY OF ONE MONROE COUNTY SOLDIER IS INCLUDED IN THE LARGEST
GROUP OF WAR DEAD TO BE RETURNED FROM THE PACIFIC AREA TO DATE. MORE
THAN 3000 AMERICAN WAR DEAD. INCLUDING 164 FROM OHIO AND 54 FROM WEST
VIRGINIA. WHO DIED IN THE BITTER FIGHTING FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS ARE
ONBOARD THE U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT WALTER W. SCHWENK, WHICH HAS ARRIVED
AT SAN FRANCISCO.
INCLUDED IS:
PFC. LAWRENCE P. BIGLER. MARINES. NEXT OF KIN, ALMA HIGHMAN OF
104 N. PAUL ST. WOODSFIELD.
Woodsfield High School class of 1944
The WHS, class of 1944, felt the effects of the war years.
Thirty-seven young men were part of this class and according to a
class member Dama Martin Burkhart, 33 of these concerned Americans
entered military life either before or after graduation. They served
in all branches of service during the end of World War II.
One class member, Lawrence Bigler, a 19-year old Marine, jumped
to his feet and continued to pound the enemy with his automatic rifle
while at "Gernade Ridge" in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
This young Morroe Countian fell to his death after being mortally
wounded in the stomach as he so unselfishly gave his life for the
freedom enjoyed in this country today.
Monroe County Beacon June 17, 1999
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1925 - 1945 (19 years)