Tillman, Benjamin R.
Sergeant Grant F. Timmerman, USMC, (1919-1944)
Grant Frederick Timmerman was born on 19 February 1919 in Americus, Kansas. He attended Kansas State Teacher's College for a year and in 1937 moved to San Mateo, California, where he worked as an electric welder. In October 1937 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from that state. Following recruit training at Marine Recruit Depot at San Diego, California, he was assigned to the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington. Relocating to China on board USS Henderson in 1938, Timmerman then served with the Motor Transport Company, Fourth Marines. In July 1940, he was promoted to Private First Class.
Returning to the U.S. in April 1941, Timmerman was assigned to duty at the Naval Prison, Mare Island Navy Yard, California. In October, he was discharged from the Marines, but reenlisted in February 1942, after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II. He initially served with the Transport Company at Marine Corps Base, San Diego, then was assigned to the Commanding General of the Department of the Pacific, whose headquarters was at San Francisco. Transferred to the Second Tank Battalion of the Second Marine Division in the Spring, Timmerman was promoted to Corporal in July and to Sergeant in October 1942. The following month, he went overseas to Wellington, New Zealand to prepare for combat duty. In November 1943, Sergeant Timmerman participated in the conquest of Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands.
On 15 June 1944, serving as a tank commander with the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, Sergeant Timmerman took part in the D-Day landings on Saipan, Mariana Islands, and the subsequent fight to capture that strategic island. On 8 July, when his tank was halted by enemy defenses, he blocked an incoming grenade with his body. Holding it to his chest and absorbing the blast, Timmerman sacrificed his life to save his comrades. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Grant F. Timmerman is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.
USS Timmerman (DD-828, later EAG-152), 1952-1959, was named in honor of Sergeant Grant F. Timmerman.
