Herman Newton Yates was born March 12, 1924 in Cullman, County. His parents, Thomas Newton and Rosie C. Yates, resided at Route 8 in Vinemont. At the age of 18, Herman registered for military service with the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II.
Yates fought in the Pacific Theater with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The USMC 3rd Division along with the Army’s 77th Infantry Division fought the Japanese in the 2nd battle of Guam.
The battle took place from July 21, 1944 to August 10, 1944. According to defense.gov, “Around 59,000 U.S. service members and a large number of native Chamorros faced about 18,000 Japanese. Fighting in the thick jungle and steep terrain was difficult for both sides, with about 3,000 U.S. troops killed and more than 18,000 Japanese dead when it was over.”
“Although organized Japanese resistance ended August 10, some 7,500 Japanese soldiers remained in the jungle for some time, and some continued to fight.” It was during this resistance that Herman Newton Yates was killed in action on August 24, 1944 .
Yates is now buried alongside his younger sister Myrtle, who died shortly before her second birthday, at Bethlehem Methodist Cemetery in Cullman, County. Yates is also honored on the World War II memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Cullman.
