World War II Honoree

John Papageorge

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Corpus Christi, Texas

Honored By

Irene Raleigh

Relationship

Niece

AT THE AGE OF 18 ON APRIL 13, 1944 HE ENTERED THE U.S. MARINE CORPS AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AS A PRIVATE. HE WAS FIRST SENT TO HAWAII AND THEN TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC TO SERVE IN GUAM, PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS AND OKINAWA. HE WAS ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON AND THE HONORABLE DISCHARGE BUTTON. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON. HE BOARDED THE USS GENERAL HARRY TAYLOR AP-145 ON FEBRUARY 14, 1945 AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SAILED FROM SAN DIEGO ON FEBRUARY 15, 1945. ARRIVED AT GUAM MARCH 18, 1945 AND DEBARKED MARCH 18, 1945. HE DEPARTED VIA GOVERNMENT AIR FROM GUAM AND ARRIVED PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS MARCH 26, 1945. HE BOARDED THE USS CATSKILL LSV-1 AT PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS JANUARY 22, 1946. SAILED FROM PELELIU JANUARY 24, 1946. ARRIVED AND ANCHORED AT GUAM, MARIANA ISLANDS JANUARY 26, 1946. SAILED FROM GUAM JANUARY 27, 1946 AND ARRIVED IN SAN DIEGO ON FEBRUARY 10, 1946. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MACS-2, PERSG, MAWC, U.S. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION AT MIRAMAR, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AND FROM THE U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE ON JULY 2, 1946 AS A CORPORAL. HE WAS IN THE 1ST DIVISION AND STATIONED AT EL TORO, CALIFORNIA.