Francis Joseph Gerlits was born Feb. 7, 1927 to George J. and Leone E. Schindhelm Gerlits. He died May 9, 1945 and is buried in West Bethel Cemetery, Cedar County, IA. He was initially buried in the 1st Marine Division Cemetery on Okinawa and returned to the U.S. in 1948.
Pvt. Gerlits served in World War II with the U.S. Marine Corps L Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division and participated in combat operations on Okinawa until KIA.
Sources: ancestry.com
