Sergeant Grant Timmerman graduated from Emporia High School in 1936.
During high school, he was a member of the band for two years.

He served in the United States Marine Corps as a tank commander during World
War II. He was killed in action July 8, 1944, when he took the brunt of a Japanese
grenade and saved the lives of his tank crew. For his action, he was awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award given by our country. He also
received the Purple Heart Medal with Gold Star, the Bronze Star, the American Defense
Medal for Service in China, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with four battle stars.

He laid down his life for his friends. This alone supersedes any other
characteristic or mannerism any man can be endowed with, his nomination reads.