Fred F. Lester
| Fred Faulkner Lester | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 29, 1926 Downers Grove, Illinois |
| Died | June 8, 1945 (aged 19) Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands |
| Place of burial | Clarendon Hills Cemetery, Darien, Illinois |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1943 - 1945 |
| Rank | Hospital Apprentice First Class |
| Unit | 1st Battalion, 22d Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division |
| Battles/wars | -Battle of Okinawa |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal (2) |
Fred Faulkner Lester (April 29, 1926 – June 8, 1945) was a United States Navy hospital corpsman who was killed in action during World War II while assigned to a Marine Corps rifle company during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. He was awarded the nation's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
Lester was buried at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien, Illinois. The destroyer escort USS Lester (DE-1022) was named in his honor, as was Camp Lester, a Marine Corps installation, at Chatan, Okinawa, Japan, the former site of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa.
Fred Lester was born on April 29, 1926 in Downers Grove, Illinois.
Lester enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve on November 1, 1943, at age seventeen. He completed his recruit training at Naval Training Station, Farragut, Idaho. He was promoted to seaman second class in January 1944. He attended the Naval Hospital Corps School in San Diego and after graduating, his rating was changed to hospital apprentice second class on March 3, 1944.
He was assigned to a Fleet Marine Force (FMF), Field Medical Service School, for combat field training and after completion, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division. A hospital apprentice first class, he died after being wounded two times in action while serving with a Marine rifle company on Okinawa. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.
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