Harlon block biography samples

Harlon Henry Block
Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

Harlon Henry Block was born on 6 November 1924 in Yorktown, TX, the second son of six children of Ed and Ada Belle Brantley Block, a farming family in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, near where the Rio Grande River emptied into the Gulf of Mexico.

He was raised in his mother's faith as a Seventh Day Adventist, with their belief "Thou Shall Not Kill" making many of them conscientious objectors. A natural athlete, he played on the football team until his graduation from Weslaco High School in June 1942.

Harlon block biography samples

Immediately following graduation, Harlon and 12 other WHS football players all enlisted together into the Marine Corps.

Military Service

Following basic training in San Diego, Harlon volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and became parachute qualified in May 1943.

Shortly afterwards, he fought at Bougainville with the 3rd Marine Division. Following Bougainville and a 30-day leave, he was reassigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28