Private First Class Duane Freeman Price

Korea US Marine Corps Antitank Company, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Service Number: 1156605 Born: April 9, 1932 Inducted: December 1, 1950 Killed in action September 11, 1951 at Heartbreak Ridge, Korea Buried: Yuma Cemetery, Lot 195 new addition, Yuma Purple Heart

Son of Ben and Ruth Price of Yuma.

Yuma Pioneer October 4, 1951

Duane Price Dies on Battlefield in Korean War
Letter From Buddy Says Soldier Died When Being Placed on Helicopter To Be Moved To Hospital

This community was shocked and saddened when news came last Thursday of the death of PFC Duane Price. His father Ben Price, had received a telegram from the War Department on September 16, informing him that Duane had been wounded in action in Korea on September 11. The first news of his death came in a letter from a buddy last Thursday. He wrote that Duane had been wounded on the battlefield and died as he was being put onto a helicopter to be flown out to a hospital.

Official notification came shortly after noon Monday in a telegram from C.B. Bates, General United States Marine Corps Commandant. It read: "Deeply regret to inform you that your son PFC Duane Freeman Price, USMC, died September 11, 1951 in the Korea Area of wounds received in action in the performance of his duty and service to his country."

Duane enlisted in the Marines on December 1, 1950 and was with the First Marine Division. He had been sent to Korea about sixty days before his death.

Duane was born on April 9, 1932 at Haxtun. He attended high school in Yuma and was an excellent student with a high scholastic rating placing him in the upper ten of his graduating class of 1950. He was held in the highest esteem by all his classmates and friends, who are now mourning his tragic death.

Besides his father, Duane is survived by one sister, Mrs. Norma Blach, and one brother, Harry D. Price of Benkelman, Nebraska. His mother died on February 28, 1948.

Yuma Pioneer December 20, 1951

Duane Freeman Price was born at Haxtun, Colorado, April 9, 1932 the third child of Ruth and Ben Price. His entire life until after his graduation from high school was spent in the Yuma area. In acquiring his education the first eight years were in the Blach School. He then entered Yuma High School in September 1947. On February 28, 1948 his mother passed away. December 26, 1948 he was baptized into St. Johns Catholic Church of Yuma. He graduated from high school May 19, 1950 as an honor student with a scholarship awarded to Regis College in Denver.

Shortly after graduation from high school he went to work for the American Lady Bakers in Denver until his enlistment in the Marine Corps, December 1, 1950. He was sent to San Diego for initial training and returned to Yuma on leave February 12, 1951.

On July 15, 1951 he left for overseas duty, landing in Japan July 30. He saw action with the antitank company, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division. On September 11, 1951 he was killed in action on Heartbreak Ridge. Services and burial were made at the Yuma Cemetery.

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