Their Story
George Edmond Morrison was born March 18, 1920, in Monmouth, Illinois, to Louis Edgar and Mary Eleanor “Ella” Colvin Morrison.[1] He was the youngest of three brothers. His siblings were Donald and Louis, Jr. When George was 6, their father died at the age of 41 in East Moline, Illinois, in 1926. His mother, Ella, was unable to care for George and his brothers so they were sent to an orphanage. Ella was remarried in January 1929 to Franklin R. Fackel. The boys then went to live with them in Reinbeck, Iowa, sometime between 1930 and 1935. They were not living there during the 1930 US Census, but two roomers were.[2]
At the time of the 1940 U.S. Federal Census, “Frank” and Ella, their 1-year-old son, Joseph, and Louis and George were still living in Reinbeck. George was 20 years of age. He was a clerk at a state office. Donald was in Norfolk, Virginia, serving in the Navy.[3] George entered the Marine Corps on July 8, 1941, in Des Moines, Iowa. He went to boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, where he graduated second highest in his class of 48 in the Aviation Ordnance school.[4] He then went to the Naval Air Station in San Diego. He was a corporal in 1942.[5]
He then taught ordinance at the Naval Air Technical Training Center at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. He was with the VMF-323, Marine Fighter Squadron, also known as the Death Rattlers.[6] George then served with the Marine Night Fighter Squadron 531 (VMF(N)-531). On July 21, 1944, George left the United States for the South Pacific, returning in August. He was deployed again September 17, 1944, serving in the Pacific through June 13, 1945. He was a Master Technical Sergeant in a Marine Corps Air Wing. He was also assigned to HqSq US MCAS, Quantico, Virginia. During World War II, MCAS Quantico was primarily used as a training and staging base for aircrew and aircraft maintenance personnel deploying to the Pacific theater. Following World War II, MCAS Quantico maintained its role as a training base, but also became a major overhaul and repair facility for Marine Corps aircraft.[7]
At some point during his service in WWII, George was wounded, either in action or during operational war missions. He was a Master Technical Sergeant at the time. He is listed in the 1946 State Summary of War Casualties from Iowa.[8] He was awarded the Purple Heart.[9]
In 1949, George applied to the State of Iowa to receive compensation for his service in WWII. His service dated from July 8, 1941 – August 13, 1948, but he immediately reenlisted in September of 1948. He was still serving at the time of this application on May 16, 1949. He reenlisted August 14, 1950.[10]
George married Lucille Evelyn Johnson in Eldora, Iowa, in 1945. Their daughter Vicky D. was born in 1948. They also had a son, Gene. At the time of the 1950 U.S. Federal Census, George, Lucille, and daughter Vicki, were living on the U.S. Marine Reservation, MCS, Quantico, Virginia, in Prince William County. The census was dated April 15. Vicki was 2 years old.
George was first promoted in 1952. In August of 1954, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant (E7).[11] In December of 1954, he was promoted to Warrant Officer 1 (W-1).[12] Warrant officers in the Marines are highly ranked and considered subject matter experts in their field.[13]
George retired in 1961 as a Captain in the Marine Corps. He moved to Davenport, Iowa, in 1961 and worked as Assistant Manager of the Iowa State Employment Security Commission.[14] He was a steward at Christ Methodist Church. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. A 32nd Degree Freemasonry™, also known as Scottish Rite Freemasonry, is a fraternity of Brothers committed to journeying deeper into the highest principles, teachings, and ideals of the Masonic craft. Scottish Rite Masons work to be guided by six core values – Reverence for God, Integrity, Devotion to Country, Justice, Tolerance, and Service to Humanity.[15]
Brother Louis also served during WWII. He was in the Army and promoted to Captain in 1943, due to his design of the machine gun mount onto military Jeeps.[16] Brother Donald served four years in the Navy returning in 1941 from Bermuda, British West Indies. He then reenlisted in December.[17] He is buried at the Rock Island National Cemetery, having died July 8, 1967. George was preparing to attend Donald’s funeral when he had a fatal heart attack.
George died July 12, 1967, at the age of 47. His daughter, Vicki, was a student at University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, at the time. Son Gene was living at home in Davenport. Half-brother Joseph was in El Paso. George’s headstone is inscribed with NCM. The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service.[18]
References
[1] Obituary for George E. Morrison (Aged 47) – Newspapers.com
[2] FamilySearch – United States Census, 1930 Iowa Grundy, Black Hawk, ED 3
[3] Donald R. Morrison – LifeStory (ancestry.com)
[4] Capt George Edmond Morrison (1920-1967) – Find a Grave Memorial
[5] 21 Aug 1942, 8 – The Courier at Newspapers.com
[6] Application to State of Iowa for WWII Service Compensation
[8] U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 – Ancestry.com
[9] Capt George Edmond Morrison (1920-1967) – Find a Grave Memorial
[10] Morrison, George Edmond in U.S. Veterans’ Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 – Fold3
[11] U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 – Ancestry.com 1955
[12] U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 – Ancestry.com 1960
[13] Marine Corps Promotion Timeline for Enlisted & Officers For 2022 (operationmilitarykids.org)
[14] Obituary for George E. Morrison (Aged 47) – Newspapers.com
[15] Scottish Rite, NMJ | What is 32nd Degree Freemasonry™? (scottishritenmj.org)
[16] Louis Edgar Morrison (1917-1993) – Find a Grave Memorial
[17] 19 Dec 1941, 15 – The Courier at Newspapers.com