Gunnery Sgt. George D. Depretz USMC - KIA Guam

[Bill Brouillard Jr.]

Another Posthumous Purple Heart from the collection - GySgt George D. Depretz - Depretz was born in Newark NJ in 1917 and attended local schools. On May 25, 1938 he joined the Marine Corps at RS Newark NJ. After Boot Camp at Parris Island he was transferred to Washington Navy Yard and was promoted to PFC on June 30, 1939. In August 1939 he transferred to Sea School in Portsmouth VA and was assigned to MD (Marine Detachment USS Helena until August 5, 1941 when he was transferred to Brooklyn Navy Yard while the Helena was undergoing repairs at Mare Island. On April 20, 1942 he was transferred to the 9th Marines and promoted to Sgt. (skipping the rank of Cpl). He was assigned to Weapons Company. After training at Camp Pendelton the 9th Marines were shipped to New Zealand and on June 29, 1943 the 9th was shipped to Guadalcanal to prepare for Bougainville (Depretz was promoted to Platoon Sgt. on June 30, 1943). On July 6, 1943 the 9th landed at Bougainville where they were in action for 57 days. On December 30, 1943 the 9th returned to Guadalcanal to prepare for the Invasion of Guam. Depretz was promoted to GySgt. with Weapons Platoon on December 31, 1943. At 0740 on July 21, 1944 the 9th landed on Blue Beach on Guam and encountered resistance until tanks could be brought up. On the 21st GySgt. Depretz made the Ultimate Sacrifice and was Killed in Action due to severe shrapnel wounds to the head and chest. His remains were buried on Guam and later repatriated to the United States where he rests in his home state of New Jersey.