Sneed, Charles C

Charles C Sneed

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company B, 1st Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division

Place of Birth:

Milton, TN

Date of Birth:

February 28, 1922

Place of Death:

Solomon Islands

Date of Death:

November 14, 1943

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Charles C Sneed was born on February 28th, 1922 in Milton, TN. He mustered into the US Marines in 1943 at the age of 21. He joined into Company B, 1st Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division as a gunnery sergeant.

In November of 1943, the 21st Marines and gunnery sergeant Sneed landed in Cape Torokina, a part of the Solomon Island system. They were sent with additional supplies for the existing US troops in the area, as well as functioning as reinforcements with uncertainty to the number of Japanese troops in the area. They also participated in the Bougainville campaigns on the Solomon Islands.

On November 8th, 1943, the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines engaged in strikes against a small Japanese opposing force. During the engagement, mortars and tanks were used in support along with the men on the ground. There were about 300 casualties for the Japanese and more than 45 Marines were killed or wounded. It was during this engagement that gunnery sergeant Sneed was injured. He died of these wounds on November 14, 1943.

He was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, American Defense Service, Asiatic and Pacific Medal, and the Victory Medal. His remains were sent back to his wife where he was first interred in Milton, Tennessee. He was later buried in plot P-6305 in the Stones River National Cemetery.