Rogers Blood
Encyclopedia
Rogers Blood was a United States Marine Corps
officer who received the Silver Star
posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II
.
, New Hampshire
, on 29 January 1922. At Manchester Central High School
in Manchester, he was a popular athlete, and also demonstrated talents and skills as a scholar, leader, and organizer, serving as president of the Hi-Y Chapter, president of the Maskers, editor-in-chief of the Oracle, moderator of the Discussion Club, and member of both the tennis
and ski
teams. He was awarded the Rotary Cup in his senior year as the most outstanding student in his class. Rogers then entered Dartmouth College
in Hanover
, New Hampshire, as a member of the Class of 1944.
entered World War II, Blood left Dartmouth and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
on 3 January 1942. He accepted a commission as second lieutenant
on 13 January 1943, and was promoted to first lieutenant
on 1 February 1944. He served at the Marine Barracks at Marine Corps Base Quantico
, Virginia
, and at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
. From 21 May 1943, he served in the World War II Pacific Theater of Operations
.
First Lieutenant Blood was serving in the 22nd Marine Regiment
when it landed on Engebi Island as part of the invasion of Eniwetok Atoll
. On the day of the landings, 18 February 1944, while leading his platoon
in a valiant charge across open terrain in the face of severe Japan
ese machine-gun
, mortar
, and rifle
fire to dislodge the heavily entrenched Japanese, he was killed in action
.
destroyer escort
USS Rogers Blood (DE-555)
was named for First Lieutenant Blood. Her construction was cancelled in 1944.
In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Rogers Blood (DE-605) was named in his honor. During construction, the ship was reclassified as a fast transport and commissioned
as such as USS Rogers Blood (APD-115)
. She was in commission from 1945 to 1946.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officer who received the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Rogers Blood was born at ManchesterManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, on 29 January 1922. At Manchester Central High School
Manchester Central High School
Manchester High School Central is the oldest public high school in the state of New Hampshire. Located in the heart of Manchester, New Hampshire, over 2,400 students attend from communities such as Auburn, Candia, Hooksett, and Manchester. The name was changed from Manchester High School in 1922...
in Manchester, he was a popular athlete, and also demonstrated talents and skills as a scholar, leader, and organizer, serving as president of the Hi-Y Chapter, president of the Maskers, editor-in-chief of the Oracle, moderator of the Discussion Club, and member of both the tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and ski
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
teams. He was awarded the Rotary Cup in his senior year as the most outstanding student in his class. Rogers then entered Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in Hanover
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, New Hampshire, as a member of the Class of 1944.
United States Marine Corps service
After the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered World War II, Blood left Dartmouth and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
on 3 January 1942. He accepted a commission as second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 13 January 1943, and was promoted to first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 1 February 1944. He served at the Marine Barracks at Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. From 21 May 1943, he served in the World War II Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
.
First Lieutenant Blood was serving in the 22nd Marine Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment (United States)
The 22nd Marine Regiment is an inactive infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Activated for service in World War II, they fought in the battles of Eniwetok, Guam and Okinawa. The regiment was under the command of the 6th Marine Division; took part in the occupation of Northern...
when it landed on Engebi Island as part of the invasion of Eniwetok Atoll
Battle of Eniwetok
-External links:* *...
. On the day of the landings, 18 February 1944, while leading his platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
in a valiant charge across open terrain in the face of severe Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese machine-gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
, mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
, and rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
fire to dislodge the heavily entrenched Japanese, he was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
.
Awards
First Lieutenant Blood was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity.Namesakes
The United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Rogers Blood (DE-555)
USS Rogers Blood (DE-555)
USS Rogers Blood was a proposed World War II United States Navy John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was never completed.Plans called for Rogers Blood to be built at the Boston Navy Yard at Boston, Massachusetts...
was named for First Lieutenant Blood. Her construction was cancelled in 1944.
In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Rogers Blood (DE-605) was named in his honor. During construction, the ship was reclassified as a fast transport and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
as such as USS Rogers Blood (APD-115)
USS Rogers Blood (APD-115)
USS Rogers Blood , ex-DE-605, was a United States Navy in commission from 1945 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:...
. She was in commission from 1945 to 1946.