Biographical:

William Earl Rush was born to William R. and Bernice Rush on 24 March 1922 in Mentone, Indiana. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in October 1940 at the rank of Private. He attained the rank of Sergeant in 1942 and Platoon Sergeant in 1943. On July 20, 1943 William E. Rush married Wilma J. Mollenhour in Craven County, North Carolina. In February 1944 Rush achieved the rank of Gunnery Sergeant, and later that year was promoted to Warrant Officer.

William E. Rush was killed at the battle of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands while serving with Battery H, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division on 8 March 1945. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for his acts of bravery on 21 February 1945 during the seizure of Iwo Jima.

Scope and Content Note:

The bulk of this collection consists of the letters of William Earl Rush to his family when he was enlisted in the United States Marine Corp from 1940-1945. These letters have been transcribed and slightly edited. Other contents include reminiscences by his siblings, information regarding his burial in Mentone, Indiana in 1949, and nominal biographical information before he joined the Marines.

Item Listing:

1 Folder:

Spiral bound typescript

Photocopying Policy:

Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.