World War II Honoree

Marvin Daniel O'Neil

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Alva, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

VOLUNTEERED FOR NAVAL SERVICE IN MARCH 1942. SELECTED FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT NOTRE DAME IN 1943; GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN IN SEPTEMBER 1943. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A GUNNERY OFFICER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS SARATOGA CV-3 FOR 2 YEARS. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT THE DRIVE IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS FROM JANUARY 19TH TO FEBRUARY 28, 1944. TOOK PART IN TRAINING AND COMBAT OPERATIONS WITH THE BRITISH EASTERN FLEET IN THE INDIAN OCEAN FROM MARCH TO MAY 1944 AND OFF SUMATRA AND AGAINST JAVA. SAW ACTION DURING DIVERSIONARY ATTACKS ON THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS ON FEBRUARY 16-17, 1945 BEFORE THE IWO JIMA LANDINGS. THEN ON FEBRUARY 21, 1945, WHILE OPERATING OFF IWO JIMA, HIS SHIP WAS ATTACKED BY JAPANESE AIRCRAFT AND SUSTAINED 6 HITS. ALTHOUGH SUSTAINING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FLIGHT DECK, THE SHIP IN FLAMES, AND 123 CREW MEMBERS LOST, THE SHIP RETURNED TO ACTION WITHIN HOURS. RETURNED TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON WHILE THE SHIP UNDERWENT MAJOR REPAIRS FROM MARCH TO MAY 1945. FROM JUNE 3, 1945 UNTIL THE WAR ENDED, BASED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, ENGAGED IN TRAINING MISSIONS. THEN CONDUCTED OPERATION 'MAGIC CARPET' TO TRANSPORT SERVICE PERSONNEL FROM THEATER BACK TO THE STATES. CONTINUED IN THE NAVY RESERVE AFTER THE WAR.