William Frank Seiverling, Jr.

William Frank Seiverling, Jr. was born on September 22, 1920 at Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Marine Corps career

Seiverling enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 2, 1942.

Attached to the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina, for basic training from February 3, to March 12, he moved to the base at New River, North Carolina, on the latter date and served there until May 17, 1942.

He began service in the field on June 19, 1942 and, by the following fall, was on Guadalcanal helping to wrest control of that island from the Japanese.

Awarded the Navy Cross

Pvt. Seiverling was killed on November 1, 1942 during the enemy attack across the Matanikau River on that island. When the enemy attacked, Seiverling ran down the hill in the face of enemy fire, killing at least one sniper and perhaps several others. Later, he covered the evacuation of wounded Marines from his own platoon; and, after hearing that the 2d Platoon was also in trouble, he ran between that unit and the enemy to cover his comrades' withdrawal. Once again, he killed several Japanese before he himself was hit by enemy machinegun fire. Though wounded, Pvt. Seiverling continued to deliver a withering fire into an enemy position with his automatic rifle. As he started back over the ridge to make his own retirement, he was fatally wounded. For unselfishly giving his life for his comrades and his country, Pvt. Seiverling was awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously.

Namesake

William Seiverling (DE-441) was named in his honor. She was laid down on December 2, 1943 at Newark, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., launched on March 7, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Grace Seiverling; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on June 1, 1944, Lt. Comdr. Charles F. Adams, Jr., in command.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• William Frank Seiverling, Jr.