World War II Honoree

Orson A. Rau

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Honored By

Charles A. Rau

Relationship

Son

TRAINED AT NAVAL AIR STATION CORPUS CHRISTI WITH CLASS 41C FROM DECEMBER 31, 1941 TO JULY 30, 1942 FLYING N3N-3, SNV, SNJ, OS2U-3, PBY-1, PBY-2, PBY-3 AND PBY-5 AIRCRAFT. STATIONED AT U.S. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, EWA, HAWAII FROM OCTOBER 9, 1942 TO NOVEMBER 5, 1942. ATTACHED TO MARINE AIR GROUP 15 AT CAMP KEARNY, CALIFORNIA TO TRAIN IN TRANSPORTS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF VMJ-353, LATER VMR-353. FLEW R4D-1, R4D-3, R4D-5 AND SNJ-4 AIRCRAFT. SENT OVERSEAS ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1943 TO JOIN CENTRAL PACIFIC ISLAND CAMPAIGN. ISLANDS FLOWN TO: OAHU, CHRISTMAS, TUTUILA, WALLIS, NANUMEA, FUNAFUTI, NUKUFETAU, APAMAMA, TARAWA, MAKIN, ELLA, MAJURO, KWAJALEIN, ROI, ENIWETOK, ENGEBI, TINIAN, SAIPAN. SHIPPED HOME TO WEST COAST AT END OF DECEMBER 1944. WAS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FEBRUARY 19, 1945 TO APRIL 23, 1945 IN CALIFORNIA. FROM MAY 16, 1945 TO OCTOBER 17, 1945 ATTACHED TO ATLANTIC THEATER OF DEFENSE HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON 9 AT U.S. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA. TOTAL FLYING HOURS: 2134, WHICH MOST OF THEM WOULD BE CONSIDERED BEING FLOWN IN COMBAT. STAYED IN U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1957 WITH RANK OF MAJOR.