Charles F. Pfeifer collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 17.0010

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of items related to Charles F. Pfeifer who served as a United States Marine Corps Private First Class with Company A, 1st Battalion, 26th Regiment, 5th Marine Division during World War II. The collection contains documents, photographs, postwar memorabilia, veteran memorabilia, Marine Corps memorabilia, and Iwo Jima Honor Flight materials.

Dates

Created: 1944-2016
Other: Date acquired: 06/30/2017

Creator

Pfeifer, Charles F. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Charles F. Pfeifer was born September 9, 1926, and raised in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. In July 1944, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina in November 1944. After training, Charles was assigned to the newly forming 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. Charles' unit was Alpha Company, 1st Battalion of the 26th Regiment. He served as a rifleman in a .30 caliber machine gun squad and was soon promoted to Private 1st Class. The 5th Marine Division was formed for the invasion of Iwo Jima. The Division landed on Red Beach on February 19, 1945, with the 27th and 28th regiments making the initial assault. Charles' 26th Regiment had been held in reserve. But, was called upon, and they landed behind the 27th and 28th Regiments. Charles fought on Iwo Jima until the island was secured, and was relieved on March 29, 1944. After Iwo Jima, the 5th Marine Division became part of Operation "Olympus," scheduled to invade Japan Home Islands. After the war was ended, Private 1 st Class Charles Pfeifer remained with the 5th Marines when they occupied the Island of Kyushu. He received an honorable discharge in November 1946 and returned to civilian life. Charles worked for the Wayne Coloney Company and helped manufacture the Gatling gun for the A-10 Thunderbolt. Charles and his wife Margaret raised five children and lived in Tallahassee, Florida. He was a very active member of the Arthur R. Meyer Jr. Marine Corps League. He is buried in the Tallahassee National Cemetery.