Joplin Carl Hord was the son of Joplin Donnell Hord and Mary Wanfield. The 1910 U.S. Census shows the Hord family was living in McLennon County, Texas. The following family members are shown a living in the home at that time:
Head Joplin D Hord M 33 Kentucky
Wife Mary E Hord F 27 Texas
Son Joplin C Hord M 9 Texas
Dau Ermine Hord F 7 Texas
Son John L Hord M 6 Texas
Son Andrew F Hord M 4 Texas
Dau Addie Alice Hord F 3 Texas
Son Charlie D Hord M 0 Texas
Hand Clarence Furkins M 20 Texas
Hord joined the United States Marine Corps on November 1, 1919. He attebded his boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the Fourth Marine Regiment, 27th Company, and shipped out to Santa Domingo, Cuba, on March 26, 1920. Hord was well suited for life in the service, and was promoted to Private First Class on April 1, 1921. He was sent back to the United States in June, joining the 45th Company, Fifth Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia. He was discharged from the service in November, 1921, and returned temporarily to civilian life.
On March 2, 1923, Hord returned to the Marines starting over as private and assigned back to the 45th Company. He was soon promoted to corporal and served as an orderly through June, 1924, when he reported for duty at Naval Operating Base Hampton Roads, Virginia. He shipped out for Haiti with the 54th Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, and in October of 1924, he competed in the Inter-Regimental Athletic and Pistol Meet in Port-au-Prince. A year later, he was assigned once again to the Fourth Regiment in San Diego. Hord soon became one of the renowned mail guards, carrying the new Marine Corps weapon, the Thompson submachine-gun to battle against American bandits who plagued the postal service in the west.
After moving to the Fourth Regiment's headquarters company as a clerk, Hord was promoted to sergeant and traveled to Shanghai, China with the regiment in February 1927. He finished his overseas tour in November, and returned to California. For the next couple of years he served on recruiting duty. In November, 1930, Sergeant Hord had a billet with the Guard Company at Puget Sound Navy Yard, before moving to the nearby ammunition depot to serve as Mess Sergeant – a position he would hold for nearly six years.
Hord was promoted to Staff Sergeant in July of 1936 and was sent to the Marine Barracks on Guam for six months. Upon returning to California, Hord was assigned to a "casual" company, a surplus pool of Marines ready for any assignment. Hord managed to become mess sergeant of the casual company before joining the barracks detachment at Mare Island Navy Yard in March, 1939. He managed to return to Puget Sound for a few months in 1940 before receiving a promotion to First Sergeant and a transfer to the USS ASTORIA (CA-34)in the spring of 1941.
Hord was the senior enlisted Marine aboard the ASTORIA when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The ship was about 700 miles away from it's dock at Pearl Harbor and missed being involved. Hord and the ASTORIA would soon get their first taste of combat in the Battle of the Coral sea and at Midway. Hord had been in the Marine Corps at that time for 24 years. Their next action, would be off the coast of Guadalcanal near Savo Island.
First Sergeant Hord was killed when the ASTORIA was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942. His remains were never recovered, and he was listed as missing in action (MIA) for a year and one day before being declared dead. He rests with his ship and fellow crewmen at the bottom of an area of water now known as "Iron Bottom Sound" due to all the ships sunk there in World War II. During that year he was listed as MIA, Hord received a posthumous promotion to Sergeant Major.
Records reflect Hord's parents were living at 2424 29th St., Lubbock, Texas, at the time of his death.
Sergeant Major Joplin Carl Hord, Sn#156901, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service to the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Silver Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with five bronze stars
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations with one bronze star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle marksmanship badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with Bars
**NOTE** - A large portion of this bio is based on information from the website missingmarines.com. They have done a fantastic job of researching approximately 3000 US Marines whose bodies were lost in the war. This writer wholeheartedly recommends their site for researchers or families of the missing. - Rick Lawrence, MSgt., USMC/USAFR {RET})
Head Joplin D Hord M 33 Kentucky
Wife Mary E Hord F 27 Texas
Son Joplin C Hord M 9 Texas
Dau Ermine Hord F 7 Texas
Son John L Hord M 6 Texas
Son Andrew F Hord M 4 Texas
Dau Addie Alice Hord F 3 Texas
Son Charlie D Hord M 0 Texas
Hand Clarence Furkins M 20 Texas
Hord joined the United States Marine Corps on November 1, 1919. He attebded his boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the Fourth Marine Regiment, 27th Company, and shipped out to Santa Domingo, Cuba, on March 26, 1920. Hord was well suited for life in the service, and was promoted to Private First Class on April 1, 1921. He was sent back to the United States in June, joining the 45th Company, Fifth Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia. He was discharged from the service in November, 1921, and returned temporarily to civilian life.
On March 2, 1923, Hord returned to the Marines starting over as private and assigned back to the 45th Company. He was soon promoted to corporal and served as an orderly through June, 1924, when he reported for duty at Naval Operating Base Hampton Roads, Virginia. He shipped out for Haiti with the 54th Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, and in October of 1924, he competed in the Inter-Regimental Athletic and Pistol Meet in Port-au-Prince. A year later, he was assigned once again to the Fourth Regiment in San Diego. Hord soon became one of the renowned mail guards, carrying the new Marine Corps weapon, the Thompson submachine-gun to battle against American bandits who plagued the postal service in the west.
After moving to the Fourth Regiment's headquarters company as a clerk, Hord was promoted to sergeant and traveled to Shanghai, China with the regiment in February 1927. He finished his overseas tour in November, and returned to California. For the next couple of years he served on recruiting duty. In November, 1930, Sergeant Hord had a billet with the Guard Company at Puget Sound Navy Yard, before moving to the nearby ammunition depot to serve as Mess Sergeant – a position he would hold for nearly six years.
Hord was promoted to Staff Sergeant in July of 1936 and was sent to the Marine Barracks on Guam for six months. Upon returning to California, Hord was assigned to a "casual" company, a surplus pool of Marines ready for any assignment. Hord managed to become mess sergeant of the casual company before joining the barracks detachment at Mare Island Navy Yard in March, 1939. He managed to return to Puget Sound for a few months in 1940 before receiving a promotion to First Sergeant and a transfer to the USS ASTORIA (CA-34)in the spring of 1941.
Hord was the senior enlisted Marine aboard the ASTORIA when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The ship was about 700 miles away from it's dock at Pearl Harbor and missed being involved. Hord and the ASTORIA would soon get their first taste of combat in the Battle of the Coral sea and at Midway. Hord had been in the Marine Corps at that time for 24 years. Their next action, would be off the coast of Guadalcanal near Savo Island.
First Sergeant Hord was killed when the ASTORIA was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942. His remains were never recovered, and he was listed as missing in action (MIA) for a year and one day before being declared dead. He rests with his ship and fellow crewmen at the bottom of an area of water now known as "Iron Bottom Sound" due to all the ships sunk there in World War II. During that year he was listed as MIA, Hord received a posthumous promotion to Sergeant Major.
Records reflect Hord's parents were living at 2424 29th St., Lubbock, Texas, at the time of his death.
Sergeant Major Joplin Carl Hord, Sn#156901, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service to the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Silver Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with five bronze stars
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations with one bronze star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle marksmanship badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with Bars
**NOTE** - A large portion of this bio is based on information from the website missingmarines.com. They have done a fantastic job of researching approximately 3000 US Marines whose bodies were lost in the war. This writer wholeheartedly recommends their site for researchers or families of the missing. - Rick Lawrence, MSgt., USMC/USAFR {RET})
Joplin Carl Hord was the son of Joplin Donnell Hord and Mary Wanfield. The 1910 U.S. Census shows the Hord family was living in McLennon County, Texas. The following family members are shown a living in the home at that time:
Head Joplin D Hord M 33 Kentucky
Wife Mary E Hord F 27 Texas
Son Joplin C Hord M 9 Texas
Dau Ermine Hord F 7 Texas
Son John L Hord M 6 Texas
Son Andrew F Hord M 4 Texas
Dau Addie Alice Hord F 3 Texas
Son Charlie D Hord M 0 Texas
Hand Clarence Furkins M 20 Texas
Hord joined the United States Marine Corps on November 1, 1919. He attebded his boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the Fourth Marine Regiment, 27th Company, and shipped out to Santa Domingo, Cuba, on March 26, 1920. Hord was well suited for life in the service, and was promoted to Private First Class on April 1, 1921. He was sent back to the United States in June, joining the 45th Company, Fifth Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia. He was discharged from the service in November, 1921, and returned temporarily to civilian life.
On March 2, 1923, Hord returned to the Marines starting over as private and assigned back to the 45th Company. He was soon promoted to corporal and served as an orderly through June, 1924, when he reported for duty at Naval Operating Base Hampton Roads, Virginia. He shipped out for Haiti with the 54th Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, and in October of 1924, he competed in the Inter-Regimental Athletic and Pistol Meet in Port-au-Prince. A year later, he was assigned once again to the Fourth Regiment in San Diego. Hord soon became one of the renowned mail guards, carrying the new Marine Corps weapon, the Thompson submachine-gun to battle against American bandits who plagued the postal service in the west.
After moving to the Fourth Regiment's headquarters company as a clerk, Hord was promoted to sergeant and traveled to Shanghai, China with the regiment in February 1927. He finished his overseas tour in November, and returned to California. For the next couple of years he served on recruiting duty. In November, 1930, Sergeant Hord had a billet with the Guard Company at Puget Sound Navy Yard, before moving to the nearby ammunition depot to serve as Mess Sergeant – a position he would hold for nearly six years.
Hord was promoted to Staff Sergeant in July of 1936 and was sent to the Marine Barracks on Guam for six months. Upon returning to California, Hord was assigned to a "casual" company, a surplus pool of Marines ready for any assignment. Hord managed to become mess sergeant of the casual company before joining the barracks detachment at Mare Island Navy Yard in March, 1939. He managed to return to Puget Sound for a few months in 1940 before receiving a promotion to First Sergeant and a transfer to the USS ASTORIA (CA-34)in the spring of 1941.
Hord was the senior enlisted Marine aboard the ASTORIA when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The ship was about 700 miles away from it's dock at Pearl Harbor and missed being involved. Hord and the ASTORIA would soon get their first taste of combat in the Battle of the Coral sea and at Midway. Hord had been in the Marine Corps at that time for 24 years. Their next action, would be off the coast of Guadalcanal near Savo Island.
First Sergeant Hord was killed when the ASTORIA was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942. His remains were never recovered, and he was listed as missing in action (MIA) for a year and one day before being declared dead. He rests with his ship and fellow crewmen at the bottom of an area of water now known as "Iron Bottom Sound" due to all the ships sunk there in World War II. During that year he was listed as MIA, Hord received a posthumous promotion to Sergeant Major.
Records reflect Hord's parents were living at 2424 29th St., Lubbock, Texas, at the time of his death.
Sergeant Major Joplin Carl Hord, Sn#156901, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service to the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Silver Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with five bronze stars
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations with one bronze star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle marksmanship badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with Bars
**NOTE** - A large portion of this bio is based on information from the website missingmarines.com. They have done a fantastic job of researching approximately 3000 US Marines whose bodies were lost in the war. This writer wholeheartedly recommends their site for researchers or families of the missing. - Rick Lawrence, MSgt., USMC/USAFR {RET})
Head Joplin D Hord M 33 Kentucky
Wife Mary E Hord F 27 Texas
Son Joplin C Hord M 9 Texas
Dau Ermine Hord F 7 Texas
Son John L Hord M 6 Texas
Son Andrew F Hord M 4 Texas
Dau Addie Alice Hord F 3 Texas
Son Charlie D Hord M 0 Texas
Hand Clarence Furkins M 20 Texas
Hord joined the United States Marine Corps on November 1, 1919. He attebded his boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the Fourth Marine Regiment, 27th Company, and shipped out to Santa Domingo, Cuba, on March 26, 1920. Hord was well suited for life in the service, and was promoted to Private First Class on April 1, 1921. He was sent back to the United States in June, joining the 45th Company, Fifth Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia. He was discharged from the service in November, 1921, and returned temporarily to civilian life.
On March 2, 1923, Hord returned to the Marines starting over as private and assigned back to the 45th Company. He was soon promoted to corporal and served as an orderly through June, 1924, when he reported for duty at Naval Operating Base Hampton Roads, Virginia. He shipped out for Haiti with the 54th Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, and in October of 1924, he competed in the Inter-Regimental Athletic and Pistol Meet in Port-au-Prince. A year later, he was assigned once again to the Fourth Regiment in San Diego. Hord soon became one of the renowned mail guards, carrying the new Marine Corps weapon, the Thompson submachine-gun to battle against American bandits who plagued the postal service in the west.
After moving to the Fourth Regiment's headquarters company as a clerk, Hord was promoted to sergeant and traveled to Shanghai, China with the regiment in February 1927. He finished his overseas tour in November, and returned to California. For the next couple of years he served on recruiting duty. In November, 1930, Sergeant Hord had a billet with the Guard Company at Puget Sound Navy Yard, before moving to the nearby ammunition depot to serve as Mess Sergeant – a position he would hold for nearly six years.
Hord was promoted to Staff Sergeant in July of 1936 and was sent to the Marine Barracks on Guam for six months. Upon returning to California, Hord was assigned to a "casual" company, a surplus pool of Marines ready for any assignment. Hord managed to become mess sergeant of the casual company before joining the barracks detachment at Mare Island Navy Yard in March, 1939. He managed to return to Puget Sound for a few months in 1940 before receiving a promotion to First Sergeant and a transfer to the USS ASTORIA (CA-34)in the spring of 1941.
Hord was the senior enlisted Marine aboard the ASTORIA when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The ship was about 700 miles away from it's dock at Pearl Harbor and missed being involved. Hord and the ASTORIA would soon get their first taste of combat in the Battle of the Coral sea and at Midway. Hord had been in the Marine Corps at that time for 24 years. Their next action, would be off the coast of Guadalcanal near Savo Island.
First Sergeant Hord was killed when the ASTORIA was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942. His remains were never recovered, and he was listed as missing in action (MIA) for a year and one day before being declared dead. He rests with his ship and fellow crewmen at the bottom of an area of water now known as "Iron Bottom Sound" due to all the ships sunk there in World War II. During that year he was listed as MIA, Hord received a posthumous promotion to Sergeant Major.
Records reflect Hord's parents were living at 2424 29th St., Lubbock, Texas, at the time of his death.
Sergeant Major Joplin Carl Hord, Sn#156901, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service to the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Silver Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with five bronze stars
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations with one bronze star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle marksmanship badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with Bars
**NOTE** - A large portion of this bio is based on information from the website missingmarines.com. They have done a fantastic job of researching approximately 3000 US Marines whose bodies were lost in the war. This writer wholeheartedly recommends their site for researchers or families of the missing. - Rick Lawrence, MSgt., USMC/USAFR {RET})
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