Early Life
Weston Dean Eastman was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on February 6th, 1919. His parents were Weston F and Rachael D. Eastman. The Eastman family home was on Byron Avenue in the Tower Hill section of Lawrence.
Wes attended the Bruce Grammar School in Lawrence. As a youth, he was actively involved in the Boy Scouts, Masonic Order of Demoley and the Lawrence YMCA. His involvement with the Lawrence YMCA was as President of Hi-Y and as a founder and first president of the Lyonec Club, a YMCA Young Adult Club. He was also a proud member of a neighborhood athletic club called the Tower Hill Rinky Dinks, which included lifelong friends Bob “Rico” Skinner, Tom “T” Marjerison, Webster “Denny” Dennison, Louis Eidam, Joe Bishop, Mel Weiner, and Kal Lynch. Another of Wes’s childhood friends from the neighborhood was Fred Demara who later in life became nationally known as “The Great Imposter “. Weston enjoyed an idyllic childhood around the Eastman family home in the Tower Hill neighborhood.
Lawrence High School
Wes attended Lawrence High School where he was a member of the track team. He graduated in 1936.
Wes was actively involved in the Boy Scouts Masonic Order of Demoley and the Lawrence YMCA. His involvement with the Lawrence YMCA was as President of Hi-Y and as a founder and first president of the Lyonec Club, a YMCA Young Adult Club.
The Irving School
In 1937, Wes graduated from the Irving School in Tarrytown, New York. The Irving School was a prestigious boarding school located on the Hudson River in Tarrytown New York. Founded in 1837, the school closed in 1955. Former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey and Baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Collins are notable alumni.
At Irving, Wes was a member of the football team and track team.
Brown University
In August 1937, Wes wrote home that he was accepted at Brown University. At Brown, he was an English major, a member of the track team, and Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, where he pledged in 1938 and became an active member in 1939. He graduated in 1941.
Military Service
Wes Eastman entered military service on July 22, 1942, but his preparation for his future Marine combat in the South Pacific began as he lead a group of fellow enlistees on the long train ride from Boston to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp training. Upon arrival at Parris Island, it became apparent to him that he was no longer a citizen-scholar but a Marine Corps “Boot”. Thus began his long journey toward combat-ready Marine.
After being introduced to his Drill Instructor, Wes and his fellow “Boots” endured countless hours of hiking and physical training at all times of the day and night and under a variety of environmental conditions.
The Boots received what seemed to be endless instruction on the rifle range, bayonet instruction, swimming and hand to hand combat. These instructions were necessary rites of passage in preparation for the inevitability of actual combat with the enemy.
From Parris Island Wes and his fellow “Boots” were transported to Fleet Marine Headquarters at New River, North Carolina (now called Camp Lejeune) for training that included obstacle courses, additional rifle training, improvising rope bridges and endless practice sessions for debarking from ship’s cargo nets onto Higgins Boats and then hitting the beach.
As a welcome respite from the rigorous training Wes enjoyed liberty in nearby Jacksonville, NC.
Upon completion of his training at New River, Wes was allowed furlough for a home visit to see family and loved ones for the last time until the war ended.
After enjoying furlough, Wes was then was transported by train with many of his fellow graduates to join the Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which had been activated at Camp Elliott, nearby San Diego.
In all, the train ride included stops in Montgomery, AL; New Orleans; Alexandria, LA; Dallas; Tucson; and Phoenix before finally arriving in San Diego.
While at Camp Elliott and Camp Pendleton, Wes received specialized Signal Corps training as a lineman, as were a number of Navajo Code Talkers. In addition, he received desert training and more advanced instruction on ship disembarkment via Higgins Boats.
Movie star Ruth Hussey visited and autographed a photo for Wes.
After enjoying one final leave in Los Angeles, Wes and his Marine “sweat brothers” traveled to San Diego to make preparations for their journey toward combat: the long boat ride to New Zealand.
While stationed California, Wes enjoyed leave time by visiting and taking pictures of local landmarks including Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and Casino Gardens in Ocean Park when trumpeter Harry James was in town.
Active Duty
Once Wes completed his training at Camp Elliott, he left San Diego via the SS Lurline, arriving at Auckland, New Zealand on February 23rd, 1943.
In June 1943, the Third Division moved from Auckland onto Guadalcanal for additional training. Wes fought bravely with his infantry regiment at Bougainville, British Solomon Islands from November 6, 1943 to January 9, 1944. In the course of the Battle of Bougainville, over 400 Marines were killed.
After Bougainville, Wes returned with the Third Division back to Guadalcanal for rest and training (which included reading and letter writing and preparation) for the Battle of Guam where he fought from July 21, 1944 to August 10, 1944. During this battle alone, 677 Third Division Marines were killed and 3,623 wounded (Wikipedia).
The Third Division remained on Guam for training until they were deployed for the Battle of Iwo Jima. Wes fought at Iwo Jima from February 24, 1945 to March 27, 1945. During this bloody battle, 1,131 Third Division Marines were killed in action and 4,438 were wounded. Wes Eastman would receive a Purple Heart for his wounds at Iwo Jima.
A United States Marine Corp Major General wrote, “in the first of these three campaigns, Corporal Eastman served as Lineman, at Guam as ambulance driver, and at Iwo Jima he served as ambulance driver. Throughout these periods of repeated action against the enemy, Corporal Eastman distinguished himself by his initiative, his unflagging zeal in the face of the extreme hardship and danger. His courage and outstanding devotion to duty was an inspiration to all who served with him. He made a material contribution to the success of these operations. His exemplary conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
In all, Wes served in or visited the following areas while enlisted in the Marine Corps: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Eniwetok, Kwajalein, Iwo Jima, and Pearl Harbor.
He returned to the United States from Sumay, Guam via the USS Samuel Chase on April 4th, 1945, arriving in San Diego on April 23rd, 1945.
Wes was discharged at Newport, Rhode Island on October 3rd, 1945 with a rank of Corporal, having been awarded the Purple Heart and Navy Letter of Commendation, having served overseas for 29 months.
Post-Military
On June 9th, 1946, Wes Eastman married Harriet Ridings in Lawrence, MA and on February 22nd, 1948 their only child, Weston Dean Eastman was born.
In 1946, Wes joined his father as partner in the Lawrence-based Weston F Eastman Insurance and Real Estate Agency, located in the Bay State Building. After his father died in 1955, Wes carried on the business until illness forced him to retire in 1977.
He was a business and civic leader involved in a number of voluntary associations. Throughout his life he was actively involved in the YMCA in a number of capacities. He was President of the Lawrence YMCA, Chairman of the YMCA Finance Committee, President of the Y’s Men’s Club, and District Governor of the Y’s Men’s Club.
Wes was also a President and Paul Harris Fellow at the Lawrence, Massachusetts Rotary Club (his father, Weston F Eastman, had also served as president of the club), a 33rd Degree Mason, a member of the Lawrence United Lodge, the Scottish Rite of Bodies of Lawrence and Lowell, Consistory of Boston, and was a lifelong member of the Aleppo Shrine. He was one of the original members of the Lanam Club of Andover.
He was a proud member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, and Guadalcanal Veterans Association. Wes was always the epitome of a proud Marine. Every November 10th (the birthdate of the Marine Corps), Wes and Harriet would go to dinner with fellow Marine friends and their wives, John and Evelyn Anton and Ray and Jenny Mansour.
Wes was a member of the Massachusetts Track and Field Association and was the starter for local track meets at Phillips Andover Academy and the Greater Lawrence Regional Technical School. He also volunteered as a recruiter for Brown University Athletics.
Wes was an avid football fan. In 1960 he was one of the original stock holders of the Boston (now New England) Patriots. In 1960 the Patriot’s public offering of stock raised $ 540,000 selling 139,000 shares to 1600 investors.
He was a loving and committed family man. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. Along with his wife Harriet and son Dean, he enjoyed many wonderful summers on Long Sands in York, Maine.
Throughout his life, Wes always remained connected to his childhood friends from his Tower Hill neighborhood. Every Friday night from the late 1940’s to the early 1970’s was spent enjoying card parties with friends Tom and Vida Marjerison, Bob and Barbara Skinner, Webster and Hazel Dennison, and Louis and Lois Eidam.
His involvement in business and civic affairs was exemplary before illness rendered him bed-ridden. In 1974 he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Although after surviving for a number of years some doctors believed that his debilitating disease may have been Multiple Sclerosis, he never went for another medical check-up.
After the original diagnosis, he lived for another 27 years at his Andover, Massachusetts home. Wes’s friends and neighbors never forgot him during his debilitating illness. The Kelleys, Leeds, Tureskys, and Mutos were among the many families that frequented the Eastman home to offer good cheer and support. His close friends from the Lawrence Rotary Club, John Anton and John McCoy, along with lifelong friends Webster Dennison and Bob Skinner, visited faithfully once a week. Wes’s lifetime best friend Tom Marjerison and his wife Vida visited almost every day. His relative longevity was due to the loving care given by his wife Harriet. He always felt that with Harriet’s love and kindness he was the luckiest man on earth.
Wes Eastman died on June 7th, 2001. He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover, Massachusetts, along with his saintly wife Harriet who died on January 30, 2007.
Wes and Harriet’s son Dean became an award-winning Social Studies teacher at Beverly High School. He retired in 2006 after 35 five years of teaching. In 2012, Dean married Syhia Wriedt. They reside in Andover and Vero Beach, Florida.