Remembering World War II

Warren James Bedford Sergeant M 362556 8 Marines, 2nd Marines Division May 31, 1913 Halifax, Nova Scotia January 21, 1942 Massachusetts 4 Dewey St., Natick, Mass. US 28 6 feet Light Brown Brown Single Store Clerk Methodist Thomas James Bedford (Father) Natick, Mass. US June 15, 1944 31 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands Dell Park Cemetery, Natick, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA Warren James Bedford was the son of Thomas James Bedford (1872-1966) and Amanda (Tanner) Bedford (1877-1964). His father was born in Liverpool, England, his mother in Port Medway, Nova Scotia. They were married on July 6, 1893 in Port Medway, Nova Scotia. The family lived in Halifax until 1923 when they moved to Natick, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Warren was nine years old. The family crossed from Yarmouth, NS to Boston on April 18, 1923 on the SS Yarmouth. He graduated from Natick High School in 1933. As a student he enjoyed acting, poetry and art. On April 1, 1935, at the age of twenty-one, Warren then a student, applied for permanent residence in the United States. On November 12, 1937 he then applied for US Citizenship. At that time he was employed as a Store Clerk and aged twenty-four. On October 16, 1940 Warren completed the required US WWII Draft Card at Natick, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was twenty-seven years old and employed with the First National Stores in Natick. Warren Bedford enlisted with the 8th Marines in January 1942. He served with the Marines in Tulagi, Gavuter, Tanambogo, Florida, Guadalcanal, and the Solomons Islands, where all enemy forces were routed from August 7, 1942 until December 9, 1942. While serving in Guadalcanal he contracted malaria, lost 35 pounds, and upon his recovery continued to serve. On June 15, 1944 the 8th Marines assaulted the beaches of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. The landings began at 07:00 with more than 300 LVTs landing 8,000 Marines on the west coast of Saipan by about 09:00. Sergeant Warren Bedford was killed on the first day of the attack. On Memorial Day May 28, 2012 the town of Natick erected a sign near his childhood home on Dewey St. which named the square in his honor.

Warren James Bedford

Source: History of the 8th Marines findagrave Natick High School Alumni Memorial Page

Excerpt from Natick Herald August 31, 1944 IS AWARDED PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY Marine Hero Warren Bedford Also Given The Presidential Citation. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J Bedford, 4 Dewey Street, bereaved parents of Marine Sergeant Warren J. Bedford, 31, who was killed in action as Saipan, have been notified that their hero son has been awarded the Purple Heart Posthumously, as well as a Presidential Citation. The cherished Purple Heart was sent to them by Colonel W. W. Orr, USMC. The Presidential citation is to the First Marine Division Reinforced of which Sgt. Bedford was a member. It says, “for strongly defending against the assaults of the Japanese, positions on Tulagi, Gavuter, Tanambogo, Florida, Guadalcanal and the Solomons Islands, and completely routing all enemy forces from the above, from August 7, 1942 until December 9, 1942. The award was signed by Major Gen. Vandergrift, USMC