Fred Faulkner Lester
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Faulkner, see Faulkner (surname).
Fred Faulkner Lester (April 29, 1926 – June 8, 1945) was a United States Navy hospital corpsman who was killed in action during World War II while assigned to a Marine Corps rifle company. He was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for heroic actions "above and beyond the call of duty" on June 8, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Fred Faulkner Lester | |
---|---|
Born | (1926-04-29)April 29, 1926 Downers Grove, Illinois, US |
Died | June 8, 1945(1945-06-08) (aged 19) Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands |
Place of burial | Clarendon Hills Cemetery, Darien, Illinois |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1943–1945 |
Rank | Hospital Apprentice First Class |
Unit | 1st Battalion, 22d Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal (2) |
Close
Lester was buried at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien, Illinois. The destroyer escort USS Lester (DE-1022) was named in his honor, as was Camp Lester, a Marine Corps installation, at Chatan, Okinawa, Japan, the former site of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa. Lester Elementary School was established in his name in his hometown. [1]