Background
John D. New was born in Mobile, Alabama, and attended Saint Joseph"s Parochial School and the public schools of that city.
John D. New was born in Mobile, Alabama, and attended Saint Joseph"s Parochial School and the public schools of that city.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on December 8, 1941, the first Mobile man to enlist after Pearl Harbor. On December 12, 1941, he joined the 4th Recruit Battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and following recruit training served at Quantico, Virginia. In September 1942, Private New joined the 4th Replacement Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Training Center, at San Diego, California.
He shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the Division on Guadalcanal.
He later took part in the seizure and occupation of Cape Gloucester, New Britain, and in the defense of the airfield in the vicinity of Cape Gloucester. Promoted to private first class in April 1944, he moved from Cape Gloucester to Pavuvu, Russell Islands, to Guadalcanal, and on September 15, 1944 sailed for Peleliu in the Palau Islands.
Nine days later, he was killed in action on Peleliu when he flung himself on an enemy hand grenade to save the lives of two comrades. The Medal of Honor, awarded PFC New posthumously, was presented to his father.
Initially buried in the United States. Armed Forces Cemetery on Peleliu, PFC New"s remains were reinterred in the Mobile National Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama, in 1948.
His grave can be found in section 7-2147.
He sailed for duty overseas the following month, and took part in the Guadalcanal campaign as a member of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.