| Name |
Setzer, Melvin Jay |
| Birth |
Abt 1918 |
Hebron Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA  |
| Dry Run |
- 20240402GHLn-
Melvin said he was born at Dry Run near Hebron Center, Potter Co. He was a son of Harry Virgil Setzer and Alice Bertha Wilburn.
|
| Birth |
20 Nov 1921 |
Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Gender |
Male |
| Residence |
Between 1930 and 1940 |
Hebron Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Residence |
1940 |
Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Residence |
1942 |
Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA |
| award/honor |
1945 [1] |
| photo- Melvin Jay Setzer awarded Purple Heart 1945. |
- 20180129 RVA-
Gerry Hamilton?Potter/McKean County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
2 hrs · 29 January 2017
Melvin Jay Setzer awarded Purple Heart 1945.
Like
Comment
1 John Christy Wetzel
|
| World War II |
Hawaii, USA [1] |
| Pacific Theater, WWII Jake Hamilton & Melvin Setzer, both served in the 4th Division of the US Marines. Both were wounded on Iwo Jima. |
- 20180129 RVA-
Gerry Hamilton
2 hrs 29 January 2018-
The Setzer surname is on the fringe of my tree by a marriage. The marriage didn’t go well, but it was a good excuse to include an old family friend on my family tree. Melvin Jay Setzer (1921-2016) was probably my father’s best friend. My father was Jake Hamilton (1918-1954). During World War II, both served in the 4th Division of the US Marines. Both were wounded on Iwo Jima.
I have memories of my family watching Friday night boxing on TV in the Setzer home (wife Virginia and two daughters). That was 1953. At age 5, I wasn’t much interested in the fights, but I remember the commercials for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and Gillette razor blades. The best part was watching “Life of Riley” on those Friday nights. I think the series came on before the fights.
When I visited Melvin in 2008, I asked what his middle name was. “J” he answered. “No I meant your full middle name,” I said. He gave one of those good-natured Setzer laughs and said Jay was his middle name. I got it that time.
We talked about his war experiences. Some details had faded from his memory, but it was clear some details were still vivid. He told me he was wounded when his company was attacking a hill. An enemy mortar shell struck nearby and he was hit with shrapnel. The wounds were serious. He had tears in his eyes when he said, “A lot of good Marines died on that hill.”
The Battle of Iwo Jima is the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. Almost half of the men in the 4th Division were killed or wounded. My father’s wounds were not serious, and he returned to the battle after 10 days of treatment. Melvin was away from his unit for about nine months for treatment and rehabilitation.
Melvin said he was born at Dry Run near Hebron Center, Potter Co. He was a son of Harry Virgil Setzer and Alice Bertha Wilburn.
Like 8 You, Tina Johnson Daughenbaugh and 6 others
Comments
Brenda Kenealy Williams That's a great memory!
Like · Reply · 1h
photos-
20180129 RVA-
Gerry Hamilton?Potter/McKean County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
- US Marine Privates Melvin Jay Setzer and Jake Hamilton.The photo was taken in 1944 before they went overseas. - at Camp Lejeune, NC.
- Jake Hamilton (let) and Melvin Jay Setzer enjoy cigars probably before the Battle of Iwo Jima. - at Somewhere in the Territory of Hawaii.
- Melvin Jay Setzer gave me this photo in 2008. He said, "This is a contraption some of the boys made to wash their clothes." He identified the men (from left) BACK Guy R. Haskell (Vermont), Richard J. “Dick” Foley (Ulysses), Melvin; FRONT Jake Hamilton (Coudersport), unknown Brehm. All were members of the 4th Division, U.S. Marine Corps. The division was based on Maui between battles on Pacific islands. - at Maui, World War II base for 4th Div., USMC.
- Melvin Jay Setzer awarded Purple Heart 1945.
again, 20211111FB
Gerry Hamilton / FaceBook
November 11, 2021 at 12:47 PM ·
Jake Hamilton and Melvin Jay Setzer joined the US Marine Corps on May 31, 1944. Jake was my father, and Melvin became his best friend. They were among four Potter County, PA, men who joined the Marines that day.
All four were assigned to the 4th Division and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, which began on Feb. 19, 1945. All four were wounded. My father was hit by a small piece of shrapnel on Feb. 25. He was out of action until March 6, when he returned to combat. My father was lucky. Melvin was not so lucky. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel from an enemy mortar shell on March 2. He was in treatment and rehab for 87 days.
Attached is a photo of Jake (left) and Melvin, who are enjoying cigars somewhere in the Territory of Hawaii, which was not yet a state. The photo was probably taken before the battle. The 4th Division was based in Hawaii during the war. The Battle of Iwo Jima was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. The 4th Division had 9,098 casualties, which was almost half of the division. See less
|
| wounded |
Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan [1] |
| He told me (Gerry Hamilton) he was wounded when his company was attacking a hill. An enemy mortar shell struck nearby and he was hit with shrapnel. The wounds were serious. He had tears in his eyes when he said, “A lot of good Marines died on that hill.” |
- 20180129 RVA-
Gerry Hamilton
2 hrs 29 January 2018-
The Setzer surname is on the fringe of my tree by a marriage. The marriage didn’t go well, but it was a good excuse to include an old family friend on my family tree. Melvin Jay Setzer (1921-2016) was probably my father’s best friend. My father was Jake Hamilton (1918-1954). During World War II, both served in the 4th Division of the US Marines. Both were wounded on Iwo Jima.
I have memories of my family watching Friday night boxing on TV in the Setzer home (wife Virginia and two daughters). That was 1953. At age 5, I wasn’t much interested in the fights, but I remember the commercials for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and Gillette razor blades. The best part was watching “Life of Riley” on those Friday nights. I think the series came on before the fights.
When I visited Melvin in 2008, I asked what his middle name was. “J” he answered. “No I meant your full middle name,” I said. He gave one of those good-natured Setzer laughs and said Jay was his middle name. I got it that time.
We talked about his war experiences. Some details had faded from his memory, but it was clear some details were still vivid. He told me he was wounded when his company was attacking a hill. An enemy mortar shell struck nearby and he was hit with shrapnel. The wounds were serious. He had tears in his eyes when he said, “A lot of good Marines died on that hill.”
The Battle of Iwo Jima is the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. Almost half of the men in the 4th Division were killed or wounded. My father’s wounds were not serious, and he returned to the battle after 10 days of treatment. Melvin was away from his unit for about nine months for treatment and rehabilitation.
Melvin said he was born at Dry Run near Hebron Center, Potter Co. He was a son of Harry Virgil Setzer and Alice Bertha Wilburn.
Like 8 You, Tina Johnson Daughenbaugh and 6 others
Comments
Brenda Kenealy Williams That's a great memory!
Like · Reply · 1h
photos-
20180129 RVA-
Gerry Hamilton?Potter/McKean County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
- US Marine Privates Melvin Jay Setzer and Jake Hamilton.The photo was taken in 1944 before they went overseas. - at Camp Lejeune, NC.
- Jake Hamilton (let) and Melvin Jay Setzer enjoy cigars probably before the Battle of Iwo Jima. - at Somewhere in the Territory of Hawaii.
- Melvin Jay Setzer gave me this photo in 2008. He said, "This is a contraption some of the boys made to wash their clothes." He identified the men (from left) BACK Guy R. Haskell (Vermont), Richard J. “Dick” Foley (Ulysses), Melvin; FRONT Jake Hamilton (Coudersport), unknown Brehm. All were members of the 4th Division, U.S. Marine Corps. The division was based on Maui between battles on Pacific islands. - at Maui, World War II base for 4th Div., USMC.
- Melvin Jay Setzer awarded Purple Heart 1945.
again, 20211111FB
Gerry Hamilton / FaceBook
November 11, 2021 at 12:47 PM ·
Jake Hamilton and Melvin Jay Setzer joined the US Marine Corps on May 31, 1944. Jake was my father, and Melvin became his best friend. They were among four Potter County, PA, men who joined the Marines that day.
All four were assigned to the 4th Division and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, which began on Feb. 19, 1945. All four were wounded. My father was hit by a small piece of shrapnel on Feb. 25. He was out of action until March 6, when he returned to combat. My father was lucky. Melvin was not so lucky. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel from an enemy mortar shell on March 2. He was in treatment and rehab for 87 days.
Attached is a photo of Jake (left) and Melvin, who are enjoying cigars somewhere in the Territory of Hawaii, which was not yet a state. The photo was probably taken before the battle. The 4th Division was based in Hawaii during the war. The Battle of Iwo Jima was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. The 4th Division had 9,098 casualties, which was almost half of the division. See less
|
| FSID |
GW86-JY8 |
| Name |
Melvin Jay Setzer |
- 20180129 RVA-
Gerry Hamilton
2 hrs 29 January 2018-
The Setzer surname is on the fringe of my tree by a marriage. The marriage didn’t go well, but it was a good excuse to include an old family friend on my family tree. Melvin Jay Setzer (1921-2016) was probably my father’s best friend. My father was Jake Hamilton (1918-1954). During World War II, both served in the 4th Division of the US Marines. Both were wounded on Iwo Jima.
I have memories of my family watching Friday night boxing on TV in the Setzer home (wife Virginia and two daughters). That was 1953. At age 5, I wasn’t much interested in the fights, but I remember the commercials for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and Gillette razor blades. The best part was watching “Life of Riley” on those Friday nights. I think the series came on before the fights.
When I visited Melvin in 2008, I asked what his middle name was. “J” he answered. “No I meant your full middle name,” I said. He gave one of those good-natured Setzer laughs and said Jay was his middle name. I got it that time.
We talked about his war experiences. Some details had faded from his memory, but it was clear some details were still vivid. He told me he was wounded when his company was attacking a hill. An enemy mortar shell struck nearby and he was hit with shrapnel. The wounds were serious. He had tears in his eyes when he said, “A lot of good Marines died on that hill.”
|
| Name |
Melvin Setzer |
- 20181128HAv-
Linda Setzer Cole Lohr
September 20, 2016 ·
9 Comments2 Shares
36Brenda Kenealy Williams and 35 others
Comments
Linda Setzer Cole Lohr
Ty Bev... I miss him so much... & we hv SO MANY wonderful Coudy veterans who to be so PROUD of, Tom Leet, Mr. Kenealy (Brenda's dad), Donny Stiles (Vietnam), and so many more. I hope it's ok that I posted Ken Cole and John Domaleski with dad. They always kept an eye on him ????... all our Coudy guys are great...
2 2y
Ken Cole
I remember that one. R.I.P. Melvin, you are a HERO, indeed.
2 2y
Joanne Regg Simmons
Love the photo with your dear Dad in his 1940's uniform. Know he enjoyed the annual parade in Coudy & wearing his Marines uniform. We lost another of the greatest generation when he passed. Left a big gap in our hearts.
2 2y
|
 |
At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
|
| _MILT |
2 Mar 1945 |
| Residence |
27 Mar 1950 |
Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Residence |
21 Jun 2005 |
Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Death |
9 Sep 2016 |
| Person ID |
I62842 |
WETZEL-SPRING |
1921 - 2016 (94 years)
