In Memory of
Marine Pfc.
Herbert E. Brandt
Parker, South Dakota
Turner County
May 29, 1918 – July 4, 1944
Killed in Action on Fourth of July Hill in Saipan

Herbert Brand was born at Parker, South Dakota, May 29, 1918, to Henry and Agnes Brandt. Herbert “worked for the state highway department for two years around Keystone and Mt. Rushmore and then went to the west coast. After Pearl Harbor, he went to the Hawaiian islands on construction work, remaining there for about a year.” Herbert married Ida Flathers in October of 1940, at Grass Valley, California.

Herbert joined the Marine Corps in April of 1943. He was in boot camp in San Diego, California. He then was assigned to Company E, 2^nd Battalion, 24^th Marine Division that was being combined with the 4^th Marine Division. Marine Pfc. Brandt was sent to Namur Island on February 1, 1944, as a rifleman. He was wounded, recovered, and later rejoined his unit. His division went to Maui and he wrote in his album:

Families on the island threw open their doors to the marines and will
be gratefully remembered by hundreds of men of the Fourth for their
gracious hospitality. Citizens of Maui proved that ‘Aloha’ was more
than a word. The Fourth soon became ‘Maui’s own’ and the traditional
island slogan ‘Maui No Ka Oi’ became ‘Maui Marines No Ka Oi,’ which
meant Maui Marines Are Best.

After training Herbert found some free time and visited his brother Loyd who was training for the same campaign. The 4^th Division was to join with other divisions of the “Task Force.” They were headed for the Marianas Islands; the day of the invasion of Saipan was June 15, 1944.  Marine Pfc. Herbert Brandt was killed in action on July 4, 1944, at “Fourth of July Hill” in Saipan.

His nephew and namesake, Douglas Herbert Brandt, remembers reading the official letter sent to his grandmother describing Herbert’s death. Douglas remembers it like this:

Herbert was an Assault troop rifleman. He and his squad
were assaulting a Japanese machine gun position on 4^th of
July Hill at Saipan when he was hit by machine gun fire
and killed. His comrades were very sad to lose such a fine
friend!”

Herbert was “an extraordinary fellow.” His was also considered “a very patient, caring, gentle man, and loved by all.” His brother Loyd was eight years younger and was very close to Herbert; he even said that Herbert was like a father to him. This soldier, brother, and friend is missed by many.

Before he died, Herbert, in a letter home to his mother, said
I hope everyone is fine back there, give them all my regards
and tell the people to keep on turning out the ammunition
back there, and we’ll have this thing wound up soon. Please
don’t worry, Mother.        

We would like to note that the Brandt family had not one but six sons in the Marine Corps. Herbert was the only brother who was killed in WW II. We thank the Brandt family and all the families who lost “boys” to the war.

 This entry was respectfully submitted by Terra Ketchum and Alicia Rath, 8^th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, May 6, 1999. Information for this entry was provided by Loyd Brandt, brother of Herbert, and Douglas Brandt, nephew of Marine Pfc. Herbert E. Brandt.

Rest in Peace.