World War II Honoree

Howard J. Christenson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Albert Lea, Minnesota

Honored By

Kathy J. Bergman

Relationship

Daughter

SERGEANT, FOOD SERVICE. MEMBER OF MARINE FIGHTER SQUADRON VMF-441, MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 31 WHICH WAS STATIONED IN THE PACIFIC DURING WWII. AFTER THE MARINES CAPTURED THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN FEBRUARY 1944, THE SQUADRON FLEW F4U CORSAIR AIRCRAFT FROM THE ROI-NAMUR ISLANDS TO BOMB BYPASSED ISLANDS. ELEVEN MONTHS LATER, THEY BOARDED SHIPS AND LANDED ON OKINAWA, WHERE BOMBERS STATIONED THERE WERE SENT TO BOMB TARGETS ON THE MAINLAND OF JAPAN. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, MARINE AIR GROUP 31 OPERATED FROM A SMALLER AIRFIELD IN NORTHERN OKINAWA. AFTER JAPAN SURRENDERED ON AUGUST 14, 1944, THEY RELOCATED TO YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, JAPAN, WHERE MARINE PILOTS FLEW RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS.