Grant Frederick Timmerman

Grant F. Timmerman (February 19, 1919 – July 8, 1944) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the United States of America’s highest and most prestigious personal military decoration, for his heroic actions during World War II.

Grant Timmerman was born in Americus, Kansas on February 19, 1919 and graduated from Emporia High School in 1936. He played the saxophone in the high school band for two years, enjoyed hunting small game, and read, wrote, and spoke French and Russian. He attended Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia for one year, where he took a pre-engineering course. In the summer of 1937, he went to California and worked as an electric welder before enlisting with the United States Marine Corps later that year. Timmerman served in China for 4 years, and then re-enlisted once World War II broke out. He was promoted to sergeant in October, 1942.

Protecting his crew

On July 8,1944 Sgt Timmerman gave his life to protect his crew. Sgt Timmerman’s tank, of which he was tank commander, was advancing a few yards ahead of the infantry when the attack was held up by a series of Japanese pillboxes and trenches. The sergeant had been firing the tank’s antiaircraft gun during the vigorous attack but when progress was halted, he prepared to fire the 75 mm gun. Exposing himself to the enemy, he stood up in the open turret of his tank to warn the infantry to hit the deck because of the muzzle blast of the 75 mm. A Japanese grenade came hurtling through the air aimed in the direction of the open turret. Sgt Timmerman fearlessly covered the opening with his own body to prevent the grenade from killing his crew and the grenade exploded on his chest, killing him instantly. Although two members of the crew received slight wounds from the grenade, none were killed, all the larger fragments being taken by Sgt Timmerman. For that his country bestowed its highest honor upon him – the Medal of Honor.

Timmerman Elementary school in Emporia is named in his memory.