ALLEN, Edgar Warren, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate. ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical Association, 1995. Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and reprinted with permission. EDGAR WARREN ALLEN September 24, 1923 - June 19, 1944 Edgar Warren Allen, son of Edgar and Mynette Breeden Allen, was a native of Liverpool, St. Helena Parish. He graduated from Oakland High School in 1941. March 14, 1942 he married Jane Leach of Darlington. They were living in Good Hope, Louisiana, where Warren was employed with the Illinois Central Railroad when he received his draft notice. Without a word to anyone Warren volunteered for the Marines and was inducted December 9, 1942. Following basic training at Camp Pendleton and a leave at home, Warren was shipped out to the Pacific. His family had little specific knowledge of where he was most of the time be- cause of the tight security. He obviously was in tropical islands, for one picture he sent home showed Warren among huge bunches of bananas and scantily clad natives under a banner in- scribed with the popular song phrase, "yes, we have no bananas." Although letters from the Pacific were censored to maintain security, incoming mail was not. After some time his mother wrote him to dot letters of the alphabet to let the family know from where he was writing. On an occasion when Warren was in Hawaii for Rest and Recuperation following the Battle of Tarawa, the family found the appropriate letters so marked. Warren, trained as a machine gunner, was a member of a .30- caliber machine-gun crew assigned to the 10th Regiment, an artillery unit, of the 2nd Marine Division. His first Battle was Tarawa, an important part of the Island-Hopping campaign when the United States went on the offensive against the Japanese. Tarawa, a coral atoll about three miles in length in the Gilbert group, was naturally protected by a reef extending a half mile out from shore. In addition, the Japanese had dug in fortifi- cations to protect the 4,000 defenders. The three-day battle resulted in the death of some 1,000 United States Marines and Sailors. In a letter to his uncle, Warren reported his platoon was on one of the first landing boats. He pointed out how lucky he was to go through the battle without a scratch. Warren was witty, a fact often reflected in his writings home. Letters to family members in the weeks after Tarawa re- ferred to the Christmas package he received from his Aunt Agnes. She had included useful items like stationery and bath powder. He laughed that he had not had a bath in two weeks when he opened up the puff. In a more serious vein he wrote his father about reading of "zoot suiters" fighting military personnel in California. Warren could not understand such actions. In that letter he said he never regretted his time in the Marines. Warren Allen was killed in the Battle of Saipan in the Mari- anas. Few details were known at first, but later some facts were learned. He was wounded in the chest by sniper fire on the thrid day of the battle, June 19, 1944. He was taken unconscious aboard the hospital ship SOLACE where he died within hours. Warren was buried in Saipan, but some years after the war his remains were returned home and interred in the family plot in Day's Church Cemetery, Liverpool. He was survived by his widow and an infant son, John Edgar Allen, whom he had never seen. In addition to his parents, he also left a younger brother, Kenneth Allen. --------------- Newspaper clippings: JANE JUANITA LEACH WEDS WARREN ALLEN Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Leach an- nounce the marriage of their youngest daughter, Jane Juanita to Mr. Warren Allen, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Allen of Liverpool. The wedding took place on March 14 in Amite with the Rev. Sam Gordon, Sr., officiating. Mrs. Allen was graduated from the Greensburg High school this year. Mr. Allen was also graduat- ed from the Greensburg High school and now has a position with the Celotex company. The young couple now make their home in Westwego. - - - - - - - 18 JUNE 1943 Pvt. Warren Allen of the U.S. Marines has landed safely somewhere in the Pacific war area, according to word received by his wife, the former Miss Jane Leach of Baton Rouge. Pvt. Allen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Allen of Liverpool and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Allen and C. T. Breeden of Liverpool. - - - - - - - 31 DEC 1943 Warren Allen Sees Action at Tarawa Pvt. Warren Allen writes the following letter to J. M. Breeden of Kentwood, who re- ceived the letter last Monday. Pvt. Allen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Allen and a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Allen and Mr. C.T. Breeden of Liverpool. Dec. 13, 1943 Dear Unc. Sorry I haven't written sooner but just haven't had the time. In fact I haven't been able to write anybody for about four or five weeks because we have been in action, and I mean action what is action. We (my platoon) were on one of the first landing boats that landed on Tarawa Atol in the Gil- bert group. We landed under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Most of our heavy machine guns were knocked out and couldn't help us much. It was a terrible and bloody affair, I saw some awful things I just can't tell about until I get home. I was afraid but didn't have time to get really scared until about four days later. I (illegible) plenty, I didn't get a scratch. You know I am in the machine gun sec- tion now. I had rations Thanksgiving day but when we got aboard ship a few days later we had turkey and everything. I guess you know I really filled up. I'm sending you some Jap coins. I have already sent Mama and Jane some paper money. I got Aunt Agnes' package and got a kick out of the powder puff and powser; I hadn't had a bath in two weeks. All the other will be very useful and I need it. Tell everybody Hi for me and I am doing alright for myself. As Ever, Pvt. Warren Allen - - - - - WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH To: Mrs. Edgar W. Allen, 408 North Fifteenth St. DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EDGAR W ALLEN USMCR DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY AND SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY. NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT PRESENT REGARDING DISPOSITION OF REMAINS. TEMPORARY BURIAL IN LOCELITY WHERE DEATH OCCURED PROBABLY. YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY FURNISHED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED. TO PREVENT POSSIBLE AID TO OUR ENEMIES DO NOT DIVULGE THE NAME OF HIS SHIP OR STATION. PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY, LETTER FOLLOWS= A A VENDERGRIFT LIEUT GENERAL USMC THE COMMANDANT U S MARINE CORPS - - - - - Newspaper article: 28 July 1944 Pfc. Edgar Warren Allen lost his life in the South Pacific at a recent date. Warren was 21 years old; was born and reared in St. Helena parish. He entered the Marine Corps on December 9, 1942, and for the last 15 months had been overseas. He fought in the battle of Tarawa as described in a letter from him published in The Echo on December 31, 1943. The last communication received from him stated that he was rest- ing for a time in Hawaii. Pfc. Allen is survived by his wife, the former Jane Juanita Leach, and their 16 months old son, John Edgar Allen, who re- side in Baton Rouge; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Allen, an a brother, Kenneth Allen, who re- sides at the family home near Liv- erpool in St. Helena parish. - - - - - Letter from Protestant Chaplain: 21 June 1944 U.S.S. SOLACE (AH5) Dear Friend, Since the service record of E.W. Allen is not available and I had no chance to talk with him, I know not to whom I am address- ing this letter. However, I do know that it will reach some loved one, who would wish to know the circumstances of his death. E.W. Allen was seriously wounded in combat with the enemy, a gunshot wound in the chest. He was brought aboard this hospital ship in an unconscious condition. Therefore, I had no chance to talk with him. Our excellent staff of medical personnel immediately realized the seriousness of his condition and provided him with every aid medical science can muster. Unfortunately they were un- able to save him from the effect of the wound sustained. He passed away quietly and without visible evidence of intense suffering. He, Who knows the heart of a man, can best understand and will be with you in the time of your sorrow. If you will trust in Him, He will help you carry your burden and will make it easier for you at this time. Please accept my sincere sympathy with you in your loss. Sincerely, Norman H. Flowers, Protestant Chaplain, U.S.S. Solace. * * *