Charles Eugene (Buddy) White was born November 27, 1922 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to his parents Elmer and Leona. His parents had a rough go of it, losing two children in the early 1920's, then having their son Charles die in WW2. There is a lot of information on him on the internet. He and his younger sister, Dorothy were avid figure skaters, receiving championship awards in 1940 and 1941. Buddy entered the Marines on May 24, 1944 and trained in Parris Island and Camp Pendleton. Buddy left for the Pacific theater November, 1944. Internet data shows that his parents remained in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Private White was in a forward support position with his gun crew when a mortar landed nearby and he was hit in the right temple on June 11, 1945. He was treated for his wounds, but died on June 28, 1945 at the 6th Division Field Hospital on Okinawa, 6 days after the official end to the campaign. A typewritten letter from Major Robert Irving, his CO, to his parents dated June 29, 1945 describes all of this.
Private White's group is extensive. Every scrap of paper that his parents received is included: condolence letters, original letters from the Navy Departmen, Purple Heart Certificate, Presidential Accolade, Marine Corps death Certificate, original death notification Western Union telegram, photos of the 6th Marine Division Cemetery, photo and rubbing of his grave site in Honolulu, original 8×10 photo of Buddy in dress blues taken in 1944, Harrisburg newspaper article about his death, officially engraved posthumous solid brooch Type 2 Purple Heart with its short titled presentation box and shipping container, Victory medal, Asiatic/Pacific medal and Presidential Unit Citation bar, and copies of internet research. Private White's original Marine Corps ring is part of the group.
SOLD to a collector 04-2021
