John T. Strandwitz
John Trumpy Strandwitz, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps.
Second Lieutenant • U.S. Marine Corps • Serial 110994
1st Marine Division
Entered service from New Jersey • Died August 29, 1942
Buried at Locustwood Cemetery, Route 70 & Copper Landing Road, Cherry Hill NJ
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Medal
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
Introduction
Second Lieutenant John T. Strandwitz was born on April 23, 1918, to William J. Strandwitz Sr. and his wife Dorothy of Haddonfield NJ. His father immigrated from Norway in 1893 and was a successful businessman in his day, owning a sheet metal factory and being very involved in public projects in Camden County. John T. Strandwitz was the fifth child, sister Margaret and brothers William, Norman, and Robert preceding him. In 1930 the family lived at 325 Hawthorne Avenue in Haddonfield.
Lieutenant John T. Strandwitz was killed in the defense of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, August 29, 1942, when, while fighting a fire and securing ammunition in a burning ammunition dump, he was struck by a fragment from an exploded shell. He was survived by his parents, William and Dorothy Strandwitz of 18 Gilmore Avenue, Merchantville NJ, and his siblings. On January 13, 1944, he was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. After the war, he was brought home to New Jersey. He was buried on June 5, 1948, at Locustwood Memorial Park in what is now Cherry Hill NJ, where he rests near many of his family members.
Second Lieut. John Trumpy Strandwitz Killed
Camden Courier-Post —
Second Lieut. John Trumpy Strandwitz, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Strandwitz, 18 Gilmore avenue, Merchantville, was killed in action in the South Pacific.
News of his death was disclosed today by Lieut. Strandwitz’ parents when they received a telegram from Lieut. General Holcomb, USMC, notifying them of their son’s death.
“I deeply regret to inform you,” read the telegram which the Strandwitzes received, “that your son, Second Lieut. John T. Strandwitz, USMC Reserve was killed in action in performance of his duty.”
“It is hard for me to believe my son is dead,” mourned the mother.
Lieutenant Strandwitz, son of the Camden civic leader who has been engaged in the sheet metal business here for many years, enlisted in the Marine Corps with his brother, Robert, 26, last January. His brother now is stationed at Quantico, Va.
Haddonfield Hi Graduate
John was a graduate of Haddonfield High school, where he was active in athletics. He attended Shenandoah Military Academy for a year and Davidson College, Charlotte, N.C., for three years. He was a member of the football and track teams at the latter school.
Lieutenant Strandwitz was born in Haddonfield where the family lived for 32 years, before moving to Merchantville four years ago.
After leaving Davidson College, young Strandwitz enlisted in the Army for a year and served with the 44th Division Headquarters Company at Fort Dix. During that period he rose from a private to a sergeant and was honorably discharged in October, 1941.
Worked With Father
He then joined his father in the latter’s business at Jefferson and Master streets, here, until his enlistment.
In addition to his parents and Robert, he is survived by two other brothers and a sister, all of Merchantville. They are William H., Jr., Norman and Mrs. Margaret Weineke.
The elder Strandwitz, a naturalized Norwegian, came to Camden in 1904. He has been active in many civic movements since then. He has served as president of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce and president of the Rotary Club. He was active in the campaign to build the Hotel Walt Whitman and for many years was active in Boy Scout work.
Lt. J.T. Strandwitz Is Honored in Death
Camden Evening Courier —
Washington, January 13, 1944—Second Lieutenant John T. Strandwitz, of Merchantville, who lost his life while fighting a fire in an ammunition dump on Guadalcanal, has been posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, it was announced today.
Lieutenant Strandwitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Strandwitz of 18 Gilmore Avenue, Merchantville, was wounded mortally when he was struck by an exploded shell fragment while fighting the fire. He had volunteered with a detail of nine men to extinguish the blaze which recurred as a result of an enemy air raid on Guadalcanal, August 29, 1942.
Lieutenant Strandwitz was commissioned May 1, 1942.
The citation which accompanied his award follows:
For heroic conduct while attached to the First Special Weapons battalion, First Marine Division, on the occasion of a fire in the area of the First Marine ammunition dump as a direct result of a Japanese bombing raid on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, August 29, 1942.
Volunteering with a detail of nine men, Second Lieutenant Strandwitz proceeded to the burning dump and courageously led his group in beating out the spreading flames, breaking down stacked boxes of ammunition and carrying them to safety. While encouraging his men in the performance of this extremely hazardous task, Second Lieutenant Strandwitz was struck by an exploded shell fragment. His personal valor and inspiring leadership in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Lt. Strandwitz Burial Service
Camden Courier-Post —
Lt. Strandwitz Burial Service
Services for 2nd Lt. John Trumpy Strandwitz were held today in a funeral home at 8 Kings Highway, West, Haddonfield. Burial was in the plot of the American Legion, Department of New Jersey, in Locustwood Memorial Park.
Lieutenant Strandwitz was killed Aug. 29, 1942, at the age of 24, while fighting a fire in an ammunition dump on Guadalcanal, for which he was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
Lieutenant Strandwitz enlisted in the Marine Corps Jan. 6, 1942. He was made a private first class Feb. 20 and a corporal at March 6 of the same year. At the same time that he enlisted in the Marines, his brother, Robert T., also enlisted.
Earns Commission
He was one of two selected from a group of nearly 100 men serving in the First Marines who were given commissions after a general staff examination. He was commissioned May 1, 1942, at Camp Lejeune, New River, N.C.
He was the son of William J. Strandwitz, 18 Gilmore avenue, Merchantville, a Camden civic leader of many years who has taken part in many activities for the benefit of Camden and vicinity.
Lieutenant Strandwitz was a graduate of Haddonfield High school, where he was active in athletics. For a year he attended Shenandoah Military academy and Davidson college, Charlotte, N.C., for three years. He was a member of the football and track teams at Davidson.
Served First in Army
He was born in Haddonfield, where the Strandwitz’ lived for 32 years before moving to Merchantville in 1938. After he left Davidson college, Lieutenant Strandwitz enlisted in the army for a year and served with the 44th Division Headquarters Company at Ft. Dix. He rose from private to sergeant when he was honorably discharged in October, 1941.
When killed by a shell fragment, he had volunteered with a detail of nine men to extinguish a blaze which occurred as the result of an enemy air raid. He was a member of the First Special Weapons battalion, of the First Marine Division, and was attached to headquarters. He also received the Purple Heart and the President’s citation medal, which was given to the whole First Division.
Of Norse Descent
His father, William J., came to Camden in 1904. He is a naturalized Norwegian. He has served as president of the Camden Chamber of Commerce and president of the Camden Rotary club. He was active in the campaign to build the Hotel Walt Whitman, at which time he secured the support of Eldridge R. Johnson, president and founder of the Victor Talking Machine Co., now the RCA Victor, for $50,000. Mr. Johnson, since deceased, had offered to give the Chamber of Commerce $50,000 with which to erect a permanent home. At Strandwitz’ request, Mr. Johnson agreed to make a $50,000 stock investment in the Hotel Walt Whitman and the Chamber of Commerce for several years had its headquarters in the hotel.
Also surviving are his mother, Dorothy M.; two other brothers, William J. Jr., Collingswood, who also served in the Marines, and Norman S., and a sister, Mrs. Fred Erridge, Portsmouth, England, whose husband is a chief petty officer in the British Navy, and whom she met during War II when his ship was at the Philadelphia Naval Base for repairs.
Photos
Grave marker of John Trumpy Strandwitz, Locustwood Cemetery, Cherry Hill NJ.