Leo Strickland with his war dog Rusty at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 1944

Photograph of Leo O. Strickland, and a description of his service during World War II

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Leo Strickland USMC Service Record, page 2

Leo Strickland USMC Service Record, page 1

Leo Strickland and his war dog Rusty at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 1944

Note: the following remarks, delivered by a member of Leo Strickland's extended family, were made during a plaque dedication ceremony at the National Museum of the Pacific War, May 22, 2025. The plaque honoring Leo Strickland and Ted Strickland made be viewed via: https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/join-give/tributes/strickland-brothers

The title of the plaque dedicated today is “Strickland Brothers: Lowell, Ohio to Iwo Jima”.

The story of the Strickland Brothers begins with my grandfather, J.E. Strickland. J.E. served with the 313th Field Artillery Regiment in France during World War I. His enlistment in the Army exemplified the American spirit of answering the nation’s call to arms.

J.E. and my grandmother had five children, four sons and a daughter. Following their father’s example, the four sons served their country, three during World War II. Joe, the eldest son, enlisted in the Army and he was assigned to General Patton’s Third Army in Europe. The two middle sons, Ted, my father, and Leo, became Marines, and they fought in the Pacific.

Ted was assigned to Company G, Second Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, which was shortened to G-2-9 whenever he mentioned his service during World War II. On February 24, 1945, the day following the flag raisings on Mount Suribachi, he landed on Iwo Jima. The next day, Ted’s 21st birthday, G-2-9 launched its first attack of the battle. During Ted’s eight days on Iwo Jima, he was wounded twice. He was evacuated on March 3rd, following his second injury. My father spoke proudly of his service during World War II, especially his affiliation with G-2-9.

Leo was a war dog handler, assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment. He landed on Iwo Jima on D-day, February 19, 1945. On March 5th, after two weeks of combat and two days after Ted was evacuated, Leo was shot by a sniper. On a desolate island in the Central Pacific,
he died, with only Rusty, his war dog, by his side. He was buried in the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima. After the war, he was laid to rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

I lost my father in 2006. He rests next to my mother, his parents, and his brother Joe in a small cemetery in Lowell, Ohio. His service to his country, and that of Joe, are indicated on their cemetery markers.

While Leo rests with brothers-in-arms in Hawaii, he is far from family. The plaque dedicated today commemorates Leo’s and my father’s service to their country. It reflects the love that the Strickland brothers had for each other. I hope that the plaque also bridges
the distance between Hawaii and Ohio, connecting Leo and Ted for eternity. The plaque unites them in this special place – a place that honors all of those remembered for their courage during the Pacific War.

To conclude my remarks, may I request that the bugler play “The Marines’ Hymn”.

LEO OVID STRICKLAND

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