Master Sergeant Herbert B Horn
Herbert Buchanan Horn was born on April 22nd, 1910 in Franklin, Tennessee to Mary Williams and Etheldred Horn III. He was joined by a twin brother, Howard, to sum up their total children to thirteen. Herbert towered over most of his classmates at an impressive 6’2 while he attended Branham and Hughes Military Academy at Spring Hill, TN. However, the twins desired a quick avenue to military life, and at 17 years old, enlisted in the Marine Corps together on January 24th, 1928. Herbert and Howard shipped off to Parris Island, South Carolina to begin basic training, and remained here into early 1929 while Howard rated as a trumpeter.
USS Wyoming
On April 25th, Private Horn left for the Sea School in Portsmouth, Virginia and on June 1st, boarded the USS Wyoming for his first assignment. The battleship remained in the United States until January 8th, 1930 when they left for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and arrived six days later. Until 1931, the USS Wyoming traveled between Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colon, and Haiti until returning to Philadelphia and going under modifications for demilitarization. Half of her main guns, side armor, and anti torpedo bulges were removed by May. On June 4th, she took on midshipmen for a training cruise to Europe, arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 26th, and later to Halifax. Finally, on December 21st, 1931, Private Horn transferred to the Barracks Detachment, Navy Yard, Philadelphia where he rejoined his brother Howard, and were both discharged on January 23rd.
After a brief hiatus, Howard decided to reenlist in the Marines on April 21st and joined the Parris Island Recruit Depot as an instructor in their Field Music School. This only lasted until November 14th, when Private Horn traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to await orders for a deployment to China.
China Expeditionary Force
After the turn of 1933, Horn boarded the USS Henderson and arrived in Shanghai on April 29th and was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. Fighting between Chinese insurgents and Japanese troops had placed the International Settlement and the Marines stationed there under tremendous strain the previous year, but by the time Private Horn arrived, it had returned to normal. Horn’s assignment was coveted within the Corps, and he enjoyed leisures in the city such as sports, food, and other activities. However, he was assigned for more serious duties as an armed guard aboard the merchant ship M/L I’Kiang along the Yangtze River from November to December of that same year. In 1934, Horn’s uncanny marksmanship skills came to light and he shipped off to Peiping, China as a competitor in the Asiatic Division Rifle and Pistol competition, returning by September 25th. Private Horn never looked back with his skills. Once he shipped back to the states in December, arriving in Norfolk on March 7th, 1935, he competed in every Marine Rifle and Pistol Team available, winning numerous medals until his discharge on April 3rd, 1936, although he remained in the inactive reserves.
Civilian Life
Herbert settled down in Pennsylvania, and eventually joined Drexel Company’s six man pistol team which entered many competitions against police, civilian, and bank teams in the northeast United States. His skills learned in the Marines gave him an upper hand, and the charm from that life likely contributed to marrying his first wife, Kathleen. Unfortunately, World War Two erupting in Europe in 1939 brought uncertainty of whether the United States would fall victim to the carnage. That was answered on December 7th, 1941.
USS Wyoming
On April 25th, Private Horn left for the Sea School in Portsmouth, Virginia and on June 1st, boarded the USS Wyoming for his first assignment. The battleship remained in the United States until January 8th, 1930 when they left for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and arrived six days later. Until 1931, the USS Wyoming traveled between Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colon, and Haiti until returning to Philadelphia and going under modifications for demilitarization. Half of her main guns, side armor, and anti torpedo bulges were removed by May. On June 4th, she took on midshipmen for a training cruise to Europe, arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 26th, and later to Halifax. Finally, on December 21st, 1931, Private Horn transferred to the Barracks Detachment, Navy Yard, Philadelphia where he rejoined his brother Howard, and were both discharged on January 23rd.
After a brief hiatus, Howard decided to reenlist in the Marines on April 21st and joined the Parris Island Recruit Depot as an instructor in their Field Music School. This only lasted until November 14th, when Private Horn traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to await orders for a deployment to China.
China Expeditionary Force
After the turn of 1933, Horn boarded the USS Henderson and arrived in Shanghai on April 29th and was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. Fighting between Chinese insurgents and Japanese troops had placed the International Settlement and the Marines stationed there under tremendous strain the previous year, but by the time Private Horn arrived, it had returned to normal. Horn’s assignment was coveted within the Corps, and he enjoyed leisures in the city such as sports, food, and other activities. However, he was assigned for more serious duties as an armed guard aboard the merchant ship M/L I’Kiang along the Yangtze River from November to December of that same year. In 1934, Horn’s uncanny marksmanship skills came to light and he shipped off to Peiping, China as a competitor in the Asiatic Division Rifle and Pistol competition, returning by September 25th. Private Horn never looked back with his skills. Once he shipped back to the states in December, arriving in Norfolk on March 7th, 1935, he competed in every Marine Rifle and Pistol Team available, winning numerous medals until his discharge on April 3rd, 1936, although he remained in the inactive reserves.
Civilian Life
Herbert settled down in Pennsylvania, and eventually joined Drexel Company’s six man pistol team which entered many competitions against police, civilian, and bank teams in the northeast United States. His skills learned in the Marines gave him an upper hand, and the charm from that life likely contributed to marrying his first wife, Kathleen. Unfortunately, World War Two erupting in Europe in 1939 brought uncertainty of whether the United States would fall victim to the carnage. That was answered on December 7th, 1941.
Return to the Corps
Herbert took a few months to get his affairs in order and spend time with his family before hustling down to a recruiting office to reenlist in the Marines on March 30th, 1942. Due to his prior service and specialty with marksmanship, he was promoted on the spot to Platoon Sergeant and joined the Rifle Range Detachment at Parris island as an instructor to new recruits. This carried on for nearly two years, with the occasional competition, until joining the First Sergeant School in Philadelphia. In November, he finally finished, transferred to Headquarters, Base Headquarters Battalion, San Diego on November 26th, 1943, and gained that promotion the following month. The Corps decided his expertise required a further promotion, and on February 5th, 1944, Horn was appointed as a Warrant Officer. It was not until the war was within four days of ending that he joined Headquarters and Service Battalion, 5th Amphibious Corps at Camp Maui, Hawaii, and almost immediately embarked aboard the USS Thomas Jefferson for the occupation of Japan. |
Occupation and Rifle Team
Arriving in Sasebo on September 25th, WO Horn acted as transportation and assistant procurement officer for the unit as they took on the daunting task of repatriating Japanese troops and keeping allied ones moving. On December 31st, he joined Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and promptly flew back to PEarl Harbor for the Pacific Divisional Marine Competition until February 23rd. While not competing, Horn acted with the unit’s procurement section as a board member until his occupation duty came to an end in March. WO Horn boarded the USS Grimes and arrived back in San Diego on the 21st to join the Rifle Range Detachment. Upon his return, General Vandegrift pinned the Distinguished Marksman badge alongside his Pistol Shot badge. In July, he was reverted to the rank of Master Sergeant and continued shooting until his hearing began to fail in 1948. MSgt Horn switched to a quieter recruiting job for the remainder of his service, retiring after 30 years on November 30th, 1953 and with 300 medals to his name.
Herbert settled in Tennessee with his family and later became a captain of the state prison guard, being involved with controversy after striking a prisoner with his pistol. Herbert passed away on November 10th, 1993 and is buried in Madison, Tennessee.
Arriving in Sasebo on September 25th, WO Horn acted as transportation and assistant procurement officer for the unit as they took on the daunting task of repatriating Japanese troops and keeping allied ones moving. On December 31st, he joined Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and promptly flew back to PEarl Harbor for the Pacific Divisional Marine Competition until February 23rd. While not competing, Horn acted with the unit’s procurement section as a board member until his occupation duty came to an end in March. WO Horn boarded the USS Grimes and arrived back in San Diego on the 21st to join the Rifle Range Detachment. Upon his return, General Vandegrift pinned the Distinguished Marksman badge alongside his Pistol Shot badge. In July, he was reverted to the rank of Master Sergeant and continued shooting until his hearing began to fail in 1948. MSgt Horn switched to a quieter recruiting job for the remainder of his service, retiring after 30 years on November 30th, 1953 and with 300 medals to his name.
Herbert settled in Tennessee with his family and later became a captain of the state prison guard, being involved with controversy after striking a prisoner with his pistol. Herbert passed away on November 10th, 1993 and is buried in Madison, Tennessee.