Edward Joseph Ernst was born in February 1948 in Illinois, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Ernst who moved to Van Ness Avenue in Torrance. He was a 1966 North High School graduate described as a “nice, quiet guy” who was a good student. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and in July 1966 was sworn in as one of four young men from Torrance as a member of the celebrated special 76-man Marine platoon that was formed to honor Bob Hope for his years of entertaining servicemen overseas. 

Ernst graduated from recruit training in San Diego in October 1966 and was assigned to the Camp Pendleton Marine base for combat training before being sent to Vietnam. Even though trained as a machine gunner, with his expert scores on the rifle range in basic training, Ernst volunteered for and became a Scout Sniper with the Headquarters and Service Company, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was stationed at Chu Lai, Vietnam, and his unit carried specially prepared rifles with powerful telescopic sights to fight and stalk enemy guerrillas and snipers.  

On February 18, 1967, PFC Edward Ernst was killed in action. He died of a gunshot wound while crossing a river in a boat near Quang Nai, an enemy coastal stronghold. His parents were notified of his death by a team of officers and received condolences from Marine Corps Commandant General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. 

He wrote to his mother shortly before he died describing the constant patrols and shooting, how they were always wet and cold from nonstop rain, and how he hadn’t washed in 10 days.  Despite these difficult conditions, PFC Ernst was proud of his unit and the job they did.

PFC Edward J. Ernst received the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon among other medals and decorations. He was survived by his parents and his sister Sandra Marie Palenschat. A Requiem Mass was held for him at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church in Torrance on March 2, 1967 with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.