George Milam Cothran Jr. enlisted in the Marines in March 1941 in Oklahoma. After boot camp he served at Mare Island and Hunters Point Naval Station, San Fransico, California. In March 1942 he was transferred back to San Diego and joined Company A, 2nd Pioneer Bn., 2nd Marine Division.
On 1 July 1942 he and other elements of 2nd Division (less 6th and 8th Regiments) sailed on the President Hayes. Beginning on August 7, 1942 he participated in the Tulagi/Guadalcanal campaign. On 30 January 1943 the 2nd Division (less the 6th Regiment) was pulled back to New Zealand. By this time he had became a member of Company D, 2nd batallion, 18th Marines, 2nd Marine Division.
On 1 November 1943, his unit sailed on the USS Zeilin arriving off the island of Betio, Tarawa, British Gilbert islands on 20 November 1943 and participated in the Tarawa campaign. They departed Tarawa on 3 December 1943, aboard the USS Monroe for Hawaii. They arrived at Honolulu and changed to USS Polk to head for Hilo, Hawaii.
They departed Hawaii on the USS Sheridan on 14 May 1944 and arrived at Saipan, Marianas Islands. On 15 June 1944 they landed and participated in the capture of Saipan and Tinian Islands. They departed Saipan 24 August 1944 on USS George Clymar and arrived at Pearl Harbor 31 August 1944. They departed Pearl Harbor 23 September 1944 on SS Afoundria and arrived in San Francisco 30 September 1944.
George was assigned to an Engineer training Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he developed a severe case of rheumatic fever and was transferred to the Naval hospital at Jacksonville, Florida in May 1945. He was medically discharged with a disability discharge on 16 August. George died on 27 February 2001 at the age of 80 years and 6 months.
From left to right: George M Cothran, USMC; Jerry Cothran US Army infantry; Earl Cothran, and Milton (Mick) Cothran US Army MP (served in New Guinia). This photograph was taken in December 1945 while Jerry was home on leave. George and Mick were civilians but put on their uniforms for this photograph.
Thanks Jerry for sending the information about your brother!
copyright 2002 T.O.T.W.
Created 30 June 2002 - Updated 11 May 2006
