World War II Honoree

Joseph Gaiko

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Bethel, Vermont

Honored By

James V. Wakefield

Relationship

Nephew

CORPORAL. KILLED IN ACTION ON OKINAWA MAY 10, 1945. ENLISTED NOVEMBER 30, 1942 AT THE AGE OF 19. HE ENTERED THE MARINES ON DECEMBER 5, 1942 AND RECEIVED HIS TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA , CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA AND FORT MIFFLIN, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. DEPLOYED OVERSEAS JANUARY 1944 AND SERVED IN CUBA, HAWAII, GUADALCANAL AND WITNESSED THE FLAG RAISING AT GUAM. WHILE SERVING WITH THE 1ST BATTALION, 22ND MARINES, 6TH MARINE DIVISION, HE WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH RIBBON AND STAR 'FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES DURING THE ASSAULT AND CAPTURE OF OKINAWA, APRIL 1 TO JUNE 21, 1945'. HE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR 'EXCEPTIONAL SKILL AS A SQUAD LEADER OF A RIFLE SQUAD AT OKINAWA GUNTO, RYUKYU RETTO ON APRIL 24, 1945' FOR LEADING HIS SQUAD, IN THE FACE OF HEAVY ENEMY FIRE, TO A POSITION FROM WHICH ACCURATE AND EFFECTIVE FIRE COULD BE DELIVERED ON AN ENEMY POSITION. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILE ADVANCING WITH HIS PLATOON ON A HEAVILY FORTIFIED ENEMY POSITION IN SOUTHERN OKINAWA, MAY 10, 1945 BEING STRUCK IN THE STOMACH, WHILE CROSSING AN OPEN AREA, BY AN ENEMY’S SNIPER’S BULLET. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED PURPLE HEART AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE WAS TEMPORARILY INTERRED IN THE 6TH MARINE DIVISION CEMETERY ON OKINAWA SHIMA, RYUKYU ISLANDS. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED HOME TO BETHEL, VERMONT ON APRIL 13, 1949 AND FINALLY LAID TO REST ON APRIL 17, 1949.