Charlie Company was the third of the battalion’s line rifle companies. During the battle of Iwo Jima, Charlie Company took so many casualties that their company was temporarily disbanded and was divided amongst the remnants of Companies A and B; they were reconstituted with replacements after returning to Maui in April, 1945. Perhaps the most famous veteran of Charlie Company is “Iron Mike” Mervosh who, upon his retirement as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps set the record as the longest serving enlisted man in the history of the Corps.
Roster
View individual biographies of the members of Company C.
Skippers
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| William D. Masters December, 1942 – February, 1943 |
Horace C. Parks March, 1943 – July 4, 1944 |
Frederic A. Stott July 4, 1944 – July 12, 1944 |
Horace C. Parks July 12, 1944 – August 5, 1944 |
Frederic A. Stott August 5, 1944 – November 6, 1944 |
William Esterline November 6, 1944 – February 25, 1945 |
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| Frederic A. Stott February. 25, 1945 – March 1, 1945 WIA |
Joseph D. Swoyer March 1, 1945 WIA |
Roy Klopfenstine March 1, 1945 – March 7, 1945 Killed In Action |
Marshall Salvaggio March 7, 1945 – March 27, 1945 |
Arthur McGilvray March 27, 1945 – April 15, 1945 |
Robert S. Selinger |
Casualties
| Campaign | Landing Strength (Joined Mid-Battle) |
Killed | Wounded | Sick (Not Returned) |
Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namur | 192 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 6.7% |
| Saipan | 227 Joined: 1 |
25 0 |
68 0 |
15 0 |
108 0 |
48% 0% |
| Tinian | 168 Joined: 10 |
10 0 |
28 0 |
7 0 |
45 0 |
27% 0% |
| Iwo Jima | 215 Joined: 38 |
47 7 |
112 23 |
4 0 |
163 30 |
76% 79% |
Decorations
Decorations shown were awarded for service with Charlie Company.
Posthumous awards are noted in italics.
| Navy Cross | Silver Star | Bronze Star* | |
| Namur | Frank W. Celentano | Horace C. Parks | |
| Saipan | Thomas A. Schultz | Jack W. Aeby Miller M. Blue Glen H. Knisley Samuel P. McNeal Stanley Sander Alexander Santilli |
Charles F. Burton Thomas W. Cox Wilson L. Cook Horace C. Parks William E. Reynolds Harold A. Risberg |
| Tinian | John J. Loughrey Frank Vallee, Jr. |
Elmo A. Burns J. Murray Fox |
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| Iwo Jima | Michael F. Murray, Jr. Franklin C. Robbins |
Jack Coutts Joseph Dill, Jr. Thomas M. Harris Samuel P. McNeal |
Jack W. Fansler Arthur T. LaPorte Bob Moss Jack C. Manning Frederic A. Stott |
Are there any of these Marines still around??? Charlie Company 1/24 is now part of the Marine Corps Reserve in Lansing, MI.
I was the Company Gunny from 2001 – 2003……
Semper Fi
Phil Zamora – GySgt (ret)
Hi Phil,
There are some WW2 veterans of Charlie Company still around. The only one I’ve corresponded with is J. Murray Fox, their mortar section commander – he was living in Greenbrae, California the last I know.
Their most well-known Marine, “Iron Mike” Mervosh, is not only still alive but even went back to Iwo Jima earlier this year – climbed Mount Suribachi at the age of 88.
There are some great interviews with Charlie Company Marines in the books “By Dammit We’re Marines” by Gail Chatfield, and “Iwo Jima” by Larry Smith.
Charlie didn’t have much luck with their Gunnys during the war. The first three (Philip J. Nelson, John E. Cornell, and Willard E. Wacklor) were dropped from the rolls either for sickness or training injuries. All three spent at least a month in Pendleton’s sick bay before being replaced – Wacklor happened to be out when they embarked for overseas, so they fought in their first action at Namur without a Gunny. They picked up two (William J. Adams and Howard L. Burton) in the spring of 1944. Adams was wounded on Saipan on June 16, and replaced by Harry H. Perry.
Perry was one of the more colorful Gunnys in the battalion, as related by one of Charlie Company’s officers:
“Lt. Loughrey, speaking to Gy. Sgt. Perry of “C” Company, instructed him, “Gunny, bring your C.P. up here for the night.” The Gunny, a 5’4″ Marine Corps Napoleon with a waxed handlebar moustache (he saved the wax from the outside of “K” ration boxes), protested, “but Lieutenant, there’s snipers up here and they’re shootin!” “Aw, bring that goddam C.P. up anyhow,” growled Loughrey. Whereupon a spent bullet whacked into Perry’s helmet, knocking him down and stunning him slightly. Flat on his back he turned to Loughrey with a dazed expression and said — “See what I mean bud, see what I mean; them snipers can shoot!”
Perry was company Gunny on Iwo Jima, as was Elmo A. Burns. Burns was wounded on Iwo, while Perry made it through and was promoted to First Sergeant. When they were disbanded at the end of the war, the Gunny was Robert T. Nichols.
If you’re interested, you can email me at webmaster@ablecompany24.com and I’ll be happy to answer any questions or provide some more detailed biographies.
Thank you for continuing the tradition of service and excellence that they began.
Cheers,
Geoff
What can you tell me or do you have any information about Carl Starns. All i know is he was one of the 31 men who survived from the 240 of the charlie company.
Hey Gunny, Iron Mike Mervosh is still alive and kicking – and kicking hard. My uncle Sil and Mike were a part of C Company. SIl has passed on, but Iron Mike has a recent biography published – “Hardcore Iron Mike – Conqueror of Iwo Jima.” It’s available on Amazon and I would be pleased to make an introduction if you like.
Phil and I served together for about three years. He was my Gunny while I was still a Lance Corporal in Weapons Platoon. I served with Charlie Company 1/24 from August 2001 till July 2007. I got to serve with the current generation of Chuck Co. Marines in Fallujah. They’re a great group of people and would love any historical insight you may be able to provide via the web. Right now I am teaching down here in Texas and am working with the high schools and local universities’ history departments in the Houston area. I would love to do some research of my own. I would appreciate any help you can offer.
Sincerely,
Sgt. Matt Bunin
1/24 USMC
My grandfather was Franklin C Robbins, any idea how I can get a copy of his citations or metals?
Hi Monika – I’m not sure about getting the medals re-issued, but you can read your grandfather’s citations here:
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=7651
Or if you prefer, I can give you some pointers on getting his service record. Please email me at webmaster@ablecompany24.com – have heard quite a bit about Franklin Robbins & would love to help out.
Cheers,
Geoffrey
What wonderful site. I came across it while doing some research on my family and found my great uncle, Edward Ternove, here. Thank you so much for this.
Hi Colleen – sorry for the late reply. Glad you’re enjoying the website! If there’s anything in particular I can help with regarding your great uncle, you can email me at webmaster@ablecompany24.com
Cheers,
Geoffrey
My grandfather Adrian J. DeWitt was in 1/24 during Iwo. Unfortunately I was only 10 when he passed away, I am 41 and served in Corps as well. I have visited Iwo Jima and climbed Mt Suribachi during a west pak in south east asia in 2001. It was an honor to have touched the black beach sand and know the sacrifice so many took there. All i know was he was wounded and received a purple heart during the attack. Semper Fi Devil Dogs
Any information on my dad would be greatly appreciated.
My grandfather LeRoy Starkey has passed, he didn’t like to talk about the war much so unfortunately I don’t have much information. I see he was listed as WIA. Can you tell me what the wound was? Was he sent home or was he able to stay with C company? This website is really nice, thank you.
Hi Danna, thanks for writing. I’ll send you an email with some further info on your grandfather.
Geoffrey
I was wondering if anyone knows anything about my uncle, “William H. Stainforth, Jr.”? I never met him and I know nothing about his service history. I know that he was in Company ‘C’ and was a replacement at Iwo Jima who was with the unit for approximately 24-hours before he was wounded. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Peter, thanks for the comment – I do have some information on your uncle, Pvt. Stainforth, to send via email.
Cheers,
Geoffrey
Hello, My father Joseph M. Hines was a PFC in C co. 24th. He is pictured above, holding one of the flags, sitting on the ground, third from the left. He died in 1964 of a massive heart attack. I was only 5 at the time and don’t have much direct knowledge of his war time experiences; however I recently transcribed the 100 or so letters he sent home to Toms Brook, Virginia during the war. He doesn’t say too much to his family about his battle experiences, except to reassure them he is OK. He did note that he was a runner on Iwo, but only in the context of having broken his foot a few months before. He wrote few letters which didn’t contain a joke or funny story. He also enjoyed participating in the 4th all marine revue called “Just 4 Fun.” Despite his constant attempts to reassure his family, even I can tell he was affected by his time at Iwo, particularly. Are there any surviving members of his unit? Is there any way to drill down into reports to better understand exactly what his company was doing? By the time he got to Iwo he was pretty seasoned, I suppose, having already fought at Saipan and Namur. I have been reading about the war in order to gain some context for the letter. Any information or direction you can give me would be much appreciated.
Sincerely, Susan Hines
Hi Susan – just sent you an email about PFC Hines.
Geoffrey
Hi, my Great Uncle is 2Lt Jack W. Fansler. If anyone has any information on him or recollections, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks!
Do you have any information about my grandfather Edward wajocechowski? I literally know nothing about him, except he was one of the youngest Marines in his company, and that he lied about his age to enlist. He passed away back in 1996 or 97. I only met him twice. Apparently he did not talk much about his time in the service as my mother had always thought he was in Korea. My Aunt recently told me he was actually in WWII which what led me here.
Hi Tania – I found some extra information on your grandfather, Private Edward Wojcechowski. Sent you an email!
Cheers,
Geoffrey
I am good friends with Steve Rudyk wounded on Siapan C/1/24.