Wheaton in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fred Faulkner Lester
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
1. Fred Faulkner Lester Marker
1st Battalion, 22nd Marines
6th Marine Division
United States Navy Corpsman
June 8, 1945
Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Chain
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list.
Location. 41° 51.987′ N, 88° 8.352′ W. Memorial is in Wheaton, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on County Farm Road near Manchester Road. The marker is part of the DuPage County Veterans Memorial, which is near the county complex. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 115 County Farm Road, Wheaton IL 60187, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robert J. Miller (here, next to this marker); James W. Robinson Jr. (here, next to this marker); Wells H. Blodgett (here, next to this marker); The Medal of Honor (here, next to this marker); James H. Monroe (here, next to
this page online
More about this memorial. The plaque is one of six at the DuPage County Veterans Memorial dedicated to the county's Medal of Honor recipients.
Regarding Fred Faulkner Lester. Fred Lester, a native of Downers Grove, enlisted in the Navy in 1943 at 17 years old, and trained as a medical corpsman. He was eventually assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division, and on June 8, 1945, he was serving alongside a marine rifle company during the Battle of Okinawa. During that fight, Lester spotted a wounded marine in an open field and, facing heavy enemy fire, reached his comrade. Despite being wounded twice, Lester was able to carry the marine to safety before
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
2. Plaques for the county's six Medal of Honor recipients
Lester is buried at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien, in the southeastern corner of DuPage County. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the medal was presented to his parents in 1946 in a ceremony at Downers Grove High School (now Downers Grove North).
An elementary school in Downers Grove is named after him, as is a ship (the U.S.S. Lester) and a U.S. Navy hospital building on Okinawa.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. 6th Marine Division Medal of Honor Recipients Marker, at Quantico
Also see . . .
1. Downers Grove Historical Society: Fred Lester.
Excerpt: "Fred was born on April 29, 1926, in Downers Grove, Illinois. He was the son of Frederick William Lester and Minnie Viola Faulkner. The family lived on the 4400 block of Fairview Avenue in Downers Grove. Fred had three brothers and a sister. As a child, he played in the local prairies in the area where an elementary school would later be built and named in his honor. He attended Downers(Submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)Grove High School (now Downers Grove North High School). He enlisted before graduating."Courtesy of the United States Navy3. Hospital Apprentice First Class Fred F. Lester (1926-1945)
2. Fred F. Lester. From the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (Submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
