World War II Honoree

William Homer 'Bill' Genaust

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Pipeston, Minnesota

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE OF SAIPAN BUT LATER RETURNED TO ACTION. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ABOUT NINE DAYS AFTER FILMING THE FLAG RAISING ATOP IWO JIMA'S MOUNT SURIBACHI, ONE OF THE FIERCEST AND MOST SYMBOLIC BATTLES. HE WAS A COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER WHO SERVED WITH THE 28TH MARINES. ON MARCH 4, 1945, MARINES WERE SECURING A CAVE, AND ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE ASKED HIM TO USE HIS MOVIE CAMERA LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THEIR WAY. HE VOLUNTEERED TO SHINE THE LIGHT IN THE CAVE HIMSELF, AND WHEN HE DID HE WAS KILLED BY ENEMY FIRE. THE CAVE WAS SECURED AFTER A GUNFIGHT, AND ITS ENTRANCE SEALED. IWO JIMA WAS OFFICIALLY TAKEN ON MARCH 26, 1945. HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR AND PURPLE HEART, NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (IWO JIMA), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE BATTLE STARS (SAIPAN AND IWO JIMA), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.