Underwood, John Earl

John Earl Underwood

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

US Marines

Place of Birth:

Rockvale, Rutherford County, TN

Date of Birth:

April 30, 1907

Place of Death:

Iwo Jima

Date of Death:

March 9, 1945

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

John Earl Underwood was born on April 30th, 1907 in Rockvale, Rutherford County, TN, to father James Minos Underwood and mother Julia Felts. He was working in Washington D.C. where he met his wife, Vernetta M Underwood. There, he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Marine corps on October 16th, 1940. He was 5'7" in stature and weighing around 155 pounds. He was described as having a ruddy complexion with brown hair and blur eyes. It is unsure what unit that Underwood was assigned to for the duration of his service, however he was noted to be a Private First Class.

He was sent overseas to fight at Iwo Jima, where the casualty rate was approximately three American lives lost for every two Japanese lives lost. The Marine corps itself suffered nearly 30,000 casualties from the Iwo Jima conflict. It was at this conflict that John Underwood lost his life serving his country at the age of 37. He is listed as killed in action on March 9, 1945.

John Earl Underwood is laid to rest at Stones River National Cemetery in plot P-6313.