World War II Honoree

Franklin Brooke Nihart

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

ENTERED THE MARINE CORPS IN 1940. HIGHLY DECORATED MARINE OFFICER. OVERSAW MARINE CORPS MUSEUMS AND WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE U.S. MILITARY CODE OF CONDUCT RECITED BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES. AS A GUNNERY OFFICER ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS SARATOGA, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF WAKE ISLAND. HE LATER TAUGHT AMPHIBIOUS LANDING TACTICS AND FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA, THE BLOODIEST COMBAT IN THE PACIFIC. SOME OF HIS MEDALS AND COMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE NAVY CROSS, TWO BRONZE STARS, DEFENSE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL AND AIR MEDAL. HE ALSO RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FROM THE MARINE CORPS HERITAGE FOUNDATION.