A Watsonville marine came to grips with his Japanese enemy on Guam.

Delford Louis Hamrick was born in Colorado on January 24, 1923, to Mr. and Mrs. Hamrick. Also included in the family were sons Dallas and Hubert and daughters Lottie, Lucy and Ocle. The Hamricks moved to California in 1930 and settled in Monterey. Later they relocated to Watsonville where Delford attended local elementary schools before enrolling in Watsonville High School.

In September 1942, Delford Hamrick joined the US Marine Corps and was sent to Camp Pendleton near San Diego for basic and school-of-infantry training.

In February 1944 Private First Class Hamrick was ordered to Guadalcanal where he joined the 12th Marine Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division. When he arrived on the island, the 3rd Marine Division was preparing for the invasion of the Mariana Islands.

“On 21 July 1944, as a part of the Southern Troops and Landing Force, the Division landed on western beaches of Guam in the vicinity of Asan Point. After twenty days of savage fighting the divisional units reached the northern coast of the island. On 10 August 1944 Guam was declared secure.”

Private First Class Delford Louis Hamrick was killed in action on Guam on July 22, 1944. His remains were later returned to Hawaii and buried in the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery on June 20, 1949. His awards include the Purple Heart.

(ABMC, Global Security.org, 3rd Marine Division, http://www. globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/3mardiv.htm. [16 September 2008] WRP October 19, 1944 1:3)