World War II Honoree

Rivers J. Morrell, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Iris Morrell

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED THE U.S. MARINE CORPS IN 1937. BECAME AN AVIATOR IN 1940 AND BECAME A DIVE BOMBER PILOT. STATIONED IN OAHU WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. TRANSFERRED TO GUADALCANAL AND PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE THERE. WAS ABLE TO LAND HIS PLANE DESPITE BEING SHOT IN BOTH LEGS. ASSIGNED TO THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IN EL CENTRAL IN 1943 AND WAS GROUP EXECUTIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW FIGHTER SQUADRON. TRANSFERRED TO SOLOMON ISLANDS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND WAS STATIONED AT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, EL TORO, CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS, LEGION OF MERIT, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, BRONZE STAR, AIR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.