Jack Leonard Fox
PFC Jack L. Fox served with Easy Company, Second Battalion, 24th Marines.
He was killed in action at Iwo Jima on 24 February 1945.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 960469
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by DPAA
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 2, 1920
in Greenwood, VA
Parents
Leonard Dooms Fox
Mary (Gosnell) Fox
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Contractor; plumber
Service Life
Entered Service
April 13, 1944
at Richmond, VA
Home Of Record
Greenwood, VA
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Lillian Elizabeth (Witt) Fox
Military Specialty
Rifleman
(MOS 745)
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart (Iwo Jima)
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 24 February 1945, BLT 2-24th Marines was ordered to assault the O-1(A) line in their zone of action. Fox and George Companies were to make the main effort, staying in contact with RCT-21 on their left. Easy Company, which had spent the previous night holding the front line against infiltration attempts, was to hold fast as Fox and George passed through their position, and then wait in reserve until further orders. By 1120, Easy Company had been pinched out and held fast their sister companies attacked Charlie-Dog Ridge.
In the afternoon, one Easy Company platoon was sent up to join the attack and reached the top of the ridge. The rest of the company filled in the front lines, and as patrols worked on mopping up the area, Charlie-Dog Ridge seemed secure. However, at 1815 hours an “intense” mortar and artillery bombardment landed on the top and reverse slope of the Ridge, causing heavy casualties.
It is possible that PFC Jack L. Fox was killed during this barrage. At some point during the day, a mortar shell scored a direct hit on the foxhole he occupied with a fellow Marine. “Although I did not see the body afterwards, I can state that I saw the mortar shell hit the foxhole in which PFC Fox and another man were taking cover,” testified Private Aaron A. Roberts of Easy Company. “Both men were killed.”
Burial Information or Disposition
In addition to PFC Fox, Easy Company lost the following Marines on 24 February:
Carter, William H. (847563)
Funk, Herbert G. (465914)
Chesser, Charlie L. (960646)
DeMaio, Frank (951469)
These four Marines were buried close together in the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on 2 March 1945, in graves 869, 870, 871, and 873, respectively. All were identified at burial, and all suffered shrapnel wounds – making it impossible to know who was killed beside PFC Fox.
An unidentifiable body was buried in the same row that same day – X-24, in Grave 890. When exhumed for examination in 1948, it was found “most parts of body [were] missing, skull, maxilla, mandible, upper extremities missing,” and the remaining long bones were broken. While these wounds suggest death by high explosives – and the height estimate is within the margin of error for PFC Fox – no dental information or other physical description could be gained from the remains.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of wife, Mrs. Lillian E. Fox
Location Of Loss
Scarchilli’s battalion was advancing towards Motoyama #2 when he was hit.
