Grover Whitfield

Grover Whitfield (d. 1929) was a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He was part of force that was sent to liberate Siknazuak, Alaska. He briefly became a company commander after Captain Reardon was killed by a sniper. When he met Sgt. Eddie Houlihan after Reardon's death, Whitfield assured Houlihan that they would keep pressing on and take Siknazuak in short order. Houlihan didn't quite share the younger man's belief that it would be as easy as that.

They reached what proved to be the final barbwire line outside of the town when the sun went below the horizon, although it wasn't actually night. As they approached, the pro-Soviet forces opened up with their Maxim guns. For the next hour, the Marines dug trenches and attacked the machine gun with mortars and two armored cars, giving the Reds time to retreat back Siknazuak.

When the way finally appeared to be clear, Lt. Whitfield led the men down the road to Siknazuak. After about one hundred yards, Whitfield stepped on a landmine and was killed.