World War II Honoree

Gladdon Otto Dunst

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

West Bend, Wisconsin

Honored By

Mary Louise Dunst

Relationship

Spouse

ENLISTED MAY 27, 1942. ATTENDED V-12 PROGRAM OFFICER TRAINING AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY. UNDERWENT BASIC TRAINING AT MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT AFTER ATTENDING OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. QUALIFIED AS A TANK OFFICER AT JACQUES FARM TANK SCHOOL, PART OF CAMP ELLIOT IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNED AS A SHERMAN M4A2 MEDIUM TANK COMMANDER IN THE 1ST TANK BATTALION, 1ST MARINE DIVISION, III AMPHIBIOUS CORPS DURING OPERATION ICEBERG, THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA, WHICH COMMENCED APRIL 1, 1945. AFTER OKINAWA WAS SECURED AND JAPAN SURRENDERED, DEPLOYED TO TIENTSIN IN NORTH CHINA WITH THE 1ST TANK BATTALION, 1ST MARINES, A UNIT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCEPTING THE SURRENDER AND SUPERVISING THE REPATRIATION OF OVER 630,000 JAPANESE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL STATIONED THERE. SUFFERED A KNEE INJURY WHILE THERE AND WAS OPERATED ON ABOARD A NAVY HOSPITAL SHIP. UNDERWENT REHABILITATION AT PHILADELPHIA NAVAL HOSPITAL, PENNSYLVANIA. DISCHARGED AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT ON JUNE 20, 1946 FROM THE U.S. MARINE CORPS DISCHARGE CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.