Edward Canfield Fuller
Edward Canfield Fuller, born September 4, 1893, was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and the son of Major General Ben Hebard Fuller (Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from 1930 to 1934). Born in Hamilton, Virginia, Fuller was a member of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1916 and was commissioned in the Marine Corps after graduating. Captain Fuller was killed in action with the 6th Marines in the Battle of Belleau Wood, France on June 12, 1918. For “fearlessly exposing himself in an artillery barrage in order to get his men into a safer position,” he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the U.S. Army.
The USS Fuller (DD-297), launched December 5, 1918, was named after Edward Canfield Fuller.
“The memory of certain officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who made the supreme sacrifice in the war will be preserved in the named of new naval vessels. Destroyers have been named for the following who lost their lives in service against the enemy: In memory of Capt. Edward C. Fuller, U. S. Marine Corps, who was killed while fighting gallantly In the Boise de Belleau.”
Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac, American Almanac Collection (Library of Congress), v. 34, 1919
Edward Fuller is one of the men and women honored by the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. He is also one of those listed on a special plaque near the entrance to the memorial honoring the 101 sons of Hawaii who died in the war.
Photo above is courtesy of the USNA Lucky Bag.
