World War II Honoree

Howard Lavan Osteen

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Baxley, Georgia

Honored By

Mendel H. 'Mickey' Osteen

Relationship

Son

104 DAYS OF DUTY ON BOARD USS YORKTOWN DURING BATTLE OF MIDWAY MANNING THE USS YORKTOWN ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES BEFORE IT SANK. HE ALSO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLES OF CORAL SEA, GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS. HE SHOT DOWN 14 JAPANESE PLANES AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. NONE OF THE 95 MARINES ASSIGNED TO HIM WERE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. STATIONED AT TREASURE ISLAND MARINE BARRACKS AFTER BATTLE OF MIDWAY. HE WAS A DISTINGUISHED RIFLE AND PISTOL EXPERT AND TAUGHT THESE AT PARRIS ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA MARINE CENTER.