Robert Morrison Byrd

Corporal Robert Morrison Byrd was killed in action on July 4, 1944 in the battle for Saipan Island in World War II.  He was 21 years old.

Robert Morrison Byrd was born on September 21, 1922 in Windsor, North Carolina, the son of James R. Byrd and Lucretia Pearce Byrd who moved to Henderson, North Carolina after he entered the United States Marine Corp and were living in Henderson at the time of his death.

Cpl Byrd served in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division.  After intensive training, the 23rd Marines shipped out to the Pacific Theater on  January 13, 1944, and made an amphibious assault on Kwajalein Atoll (January 31 – February 3, 1944) in the Marshall Islands before being deployed to assault Saipan.

The Battle of Saipan was an amphibious assault that took place between June 15 and July 9, 1944. The initial invasion triggered the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which effectively destroyed Japanese carrier-based airpower, and the battle resulted in the American capture of the island. Its occupation put the major cities of the Japanese home islands within the range of B-29 bombers, making them vulnerable to strategic bombing by the United States Army Air Forces.

On June 15, the 4th Marine Division landed on beaches south of Charan Kanoa establishing beachheads that were contested by intensive fire by Japanese artillery, mortars and machine guns. The marines suffered 25% casualties but by the end of the day had established a beachhead about a half mile inland. The Japanese launched repeated counterattacks during the night but star shells from the American warships illuminated the combat areas and the beachhead defenses held. On June 16 the 4th Marines cleared the area on the southwest of the island.  By June 19, the Japanese forces on Saipan had been reduced by half and had withdrawn to the center of the island, determined to hold the island at all costs but fighting a losing battle of attrition.  Marines fighting in the mountainous terrain used personal flamethrowers and demolition charges to clear caves or seal them off.  The 4th Marines advanced north along the eastern coast and then northwest to cut off the retreating Japanese force.  Cpl. Byrd was killed in action on July 4, 1944, five days before the battle ended.

Corporal Robert Morrison Byrd is buried in Sunset Memorial Garden in Henderson, North Carolina and is listed on the casualty list in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Last edited: 28 April 2026