Eugene C. Beaton

Private Eugene C. Beaton was born in Lemmon, South Dakota on May 29, 1919. As a resident of Cass County, North Dakota, he entered the USMC Mpls, Minnesota on June 7 1944. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and died in service on June 3, 1945 in Okinawa. He was married to Florence A. Beaton and he is burried in Plot 51, E1/2 block of 5, Holy Cross Cemetery, Fargo, North Dakota.

Details of career here.
In 1941, the battalion joined the newly formed 1st Marine Division at New River, North Carolina, but later relocated to the west coast of the United States. During World War II the battalion fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Cape Gloucester, Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Okinawa.

On 28 May a patrol brought back to the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, the news that Shuri Ridge, the high ground south of Wana Draw, seemed to be held more lightly than formerly. At 0730 on 29 May the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, left its lines and started forward toward Shuri Ridge, where patrol action the previous day had indicated a possible weakness in the enemy's lines. The high ground was quickly occupied. The 1st Battalion was now on the ridge that lay at the eastern edge of Shuri. Shuri Castle itself lay from 700 to 800 yards almost straight west across the Corps and division boundary. From all appearances, this part of the Shuri perimeter was undefended and the castle could be captured by merely walking up to it. The battalion commander immediately requested permission from his regimental commander to cross the Corps boundary and go into Shuri Castle.