U.S. MINT WORLD WAR II SILVER STAR
Corporal
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United States Marine Corps Corporal Lyle Clifford Sheen (service #425969) was born October 4th 1924 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He moved with his parents to Waukegan, Illinois as a child where he attended 8 years of grammar school & 1 year of high school. Lyle also enjoyed the hobby of model plane building. Before the war Lyle worked as a Well Driller apprentice with his father, Wray Sheen for 7 years.
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Lyle enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves as a Private July 30th 1942 in Chicago Illinois. He was transferred to basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California arriving August 5th 1942. Pvt. Sheen joined Division Headquarters Company 3rd Marine Division on September 23rd 1942, performing “Mess Duty” for the remainder of the month.
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Pvt. Sheen joined H&S Battery, 3rd Special Weapons Battalion at Camp Elliot, San Diego, CA on November 1st 1942 for advanced weapons training, specifially the 30 & 50 Caliber machine guns.
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Pvt. Sheen sailed February 23rd 1943 from from San Diego, CA on the Motor Ship SS Bloemfontein, & Arrived March 11th 1943 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was then promoted to Private 1st Class. |
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Pfc. sheen Sailed November 23rd 1943 aboard LST Tank Landing Ship #397 & arrived at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea January 13th 1944. Pfc. Sheen embarked aboard the U.S.S. Adams the same day back for Guadalcanal, where he arrived the next day, January 14. Pfc. Sheen joined Company B, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division April 1st 1944. He remained on Guadalcanal until June 8th when he sailed on the U.S.S. WAYNE for Kawajalein, Marshall Islands arriving June 13th 1944. Pfc. Sheen disembarking for Eniwetok June 29th 1944 & arrived July 6th 1944.
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Pfc. Sheen sailed from Eniwetok July 21st 1944, arrived & participated in the initial assault landings on Guam, Marianas Islands. Pfc. Sheen participated in action against the enemy Japanese Forces on Guam from July 21st 1944 - August 10th 1944. He also participated in active patrolling against the enemy Japanese Forces from August 11th 1944 - November 3rd 1944. Pfc Sheen was promoted to Corporal December 31st 1944.
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Corp. Sheen sailed from Guam February 16th 1945 aboard the U.S.S. John Adams bound for Iwo JIma. He arrived and embarked to Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands February 16th 1945. Corp. Sheen endured the brutal fighting throughout the remainder of February. On March 3rd 1945 Corp. Sheen was leading his Rifle Squad when he was struck down & Killed in Action assaulting 2 Japanese Pillboxes. For his actions on that day he was recommended for the Silver Star posthumously.
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His citation reads: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Lyle C. Sheen (MCSN: 425969), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Leader of a Rifle Squad, serving with Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. With his squad pinned down by shattering small arms fire emanating from two well-concealed hostile pillboxes, Corporal Sheen voluntarily pressed forward against the withering barrage to conduct a lone reconnaissance and, after locating the emplacements, returned to organize an attack. Boldly charging ahead of his squad, he led an aggressive strike against a strong point, personally destroying the initial pillbox with his accurately placed grenades before he was fatally struck down while assisting in the destruction of the other. By his superb leadership, valiant fighting spirit and cool courage, maintained in the face of tremendous odds, Corporal Sheen contributed materially to the success of the bitterly fought Iwo campaign and his zealous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. |
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Corp. Sheen’s mother received his Killed in Action telegram in late March 1945. Corp. Sheen was initially buried at the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery, on Iwo Jima. Grave #586, row #24. His mother requested his remains be returned & interred at Arlington & on June 17th 1948 Corporal Sheen was permanently reburied at Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Meyer, Virginia. For Corporal Sheen’s Service in the Marines during World War II, his mother was posthumously issued his Silver Star (issued Aug. 7th 1946), Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Star (issued Sept. 30th 1948), Purple Heart Medal (June-July 1945), Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Stars (issued Sept. 30th 1948), & World War II Victory Medal (issued Oct. 20th 1947). Had Corp. Sheen been discharged his character would be marked excellent. |
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