Truman Joseph Fain
PFC Truman J. Fain served with Dog Company, First Battalion, 4th Marines in the Philippine Islands.
He was killed in action at Corregidor on 24 April 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 280021
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
March 25, 1921
at Buckner, MO
Parents
Joseph Jennings Fain
Pocleda Eunice (Van Dyke) Fain
Education
William Chrisman High School (1940)
Occupation
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
January 8, 1940
at Kansas City, MO
Home Of Record
422 South Noland Street
Independence, MO
Next Of Kin
Parents, Joseph & Pocleda Fain
Specialty
Machine Gunner
Primary Unit
D/1/4th Marines
Campaigns Served
Defense of the Philippines / Corregidor
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Before the war, Fain served with the Marine barracks detachment at Cavite Navy Yard.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Truman J. Fain served with Company D, 4th Marines during the Philippine campaign and the defense of Corregidor.
On 24 April 1942, Japanese artillery unleashed a bombardment against Marine-held positions at Corregidor’s Infantry Point. Unable to strike back, the defenders took cover from the shelling. Several Marines sheltered in a nearby magazine, which subsequently suffered several direct hits.
When the explosions ceased, the survivors turned out to search for the casualties. They identified four bodies, and found other men “beyond recognition.” PFC Fain failed to answer at a muster following the shelling, and was reported as missing in action. Eyewitness statements later confirmed his death, but the fall of Corregidor prevented this information from reaching the United States until June of 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
All remains recovered from the destroyed magazine were buried in the Fort Mills Station Cemetery, Corregidor.
It took three days to remove the last of the men, by which time they were long beyond recognition. The Graves Registration guessed that the remains represented four Marines, but “all efforts were made to identify without results. Impossible to fingerprint.” They received a collective burial in the Station Cemetery, Plot C, Grave 40.
The four Marines are almost certainly Fain, Corporal Vernon E. Putnam, Corporal Walter W. Meyer, and PFC Irving E. Holmes.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Joseph & Pocleda Fain.
Location Of Loss
Fain was last seen near an ammunition dump at Corregidor’s “Infantry Point.”
Comment from Joe Fain
24 March 2013
PFC Truman Joseph Fain, is/was my Uncle. He was a dummer and a boxer. RIP.
Reply on 21 August 2013
Hello, Joe! Thank you for your note (of long ago). I was making some edits and noticed that your uncle’s page was pretty severely corrupted by some faulty code – I’ve fixed the mistake and think you might be interested in the updates.
Reply on 21 August 2013
Thank you for your time in keeping my Uncles page updated and I believe that you have worked on others that fought for OUR COUNTRY. It is very much appreciated. I will be going to the page in a little while. Thanks.
Rosindo Tiritilli is my dad. I remember my parents maintained a friendship with Mrs. Fain for years after the meeting documented here. My dad passed away 18 years ago, but it was such a treat when my son, who’d never met his grandfather, found this story about him when he did a search. We also appreciate that after so many years, some of these important memories are preserved.
Truman would have been my cousin. I always heard about him but he died before I was born . It is cool to see this as I was just searching his name . Thanks for all this. And if you read this Joe , get in touch.
Jon Larwill
209-345-0466