World War II Honoree

Milton Walter Failing

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Hornell, New York

Honored By

Mary & Judy Easterly

ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS JULY 1944. RECEIVED TRAINING AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA IN PREPARATION FOR THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. HIS SPECIALTY WAS FLUSHING THE ENEMY FROM BUILDINGS, CAVES AND OTHER HIDING PLACES. AFTER TRANSFERRING TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA IN APRIL 1945. HE RECEIVED HANDS ON TRAINING FIGHTING THE ENEMY IN GUAM AND SAIPAN. HE CARRIED A THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN AS HE SERVED WITH FOX COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 1ST MARINE REGIMENT, IN THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION, A UNIT THAT NEEDED REINFORCEMENTS AFTER THE BLOODY BATTLE FOR THE ISLAND OF PELELIU. IN MAY 1945, HE BECAME A PART OF 'OPERATION ICEBERG' THE BLOODY BATTLE FOR OKINAWA, WHERE HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION TWICE, ONLY 10 DAYS APART. IN 1994, HE RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ACT OF HEROISM, NEARLY 50 YEARS AFTER THE WAR ENDED. HIS UNIT RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION 'FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION FOR THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA. AFTER THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED IN SEPTEMBER 1945, THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION LEFT OKINAWA FOR TIENTSIN, CHINA TO GUARD THE JAPANESE UNTIL THEY COULD BE REPATRIATED. HE WAS CHOSEN TO BE AN HONOR GUARD FOR THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES TO GENERAL ROCKEY AND THE CHINESE AT THAT HISTORIC OCTOBER CEREMONY IN TIENTSIN.