From Shannon

SAVE0106, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Date of Birth 15 May 1908, Long Beach, California, USA Date of Death 30 July 1944, Tinian (Marianas Islands) (casualty of WWII) Birth Name Lee Berrien Powell Spouse Norma Rogers (1941 - 30 July 1944) (his death) Trivia Although it had been assumed that Powell was killed in action during the fighting on Tinian Island in the South Pacific, author James Wise examined Powell's Marine Corps files and spoke to ex-Marines who were in Powell's unit at the time. The files do not mention anything about Powell being killed in combat but state that he died of poisoning. It turned out that Powell's unit had survived a particularly bloody encounter with attacking Japanese forces, and after the battle they celebrated their victory by drinking a "homemade" brew concocted by some fellow Marines. Powell was taken ill and later died, another Marine with him was hospitalized and temporarily blinded for several weeks - a sure sign that Powell's death was caused by acute alcohol poisoning from the concoction they were drinking. "Thought you might find this interesting." Shannon