World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
James Fletcher Baxter
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Santa Monica, California
Honored By
Self
SERVED SEVERAL MONTHS ON DETACHED DUTY TO OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES (OSS). REQUESTED RETURN TO MARINE CORPS ACTIVE DUTY. RETURNED TO CAMP PENDLETON AND SENT TO THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION AT SAIPAN. FIRST OF TWO MISSIONS TO OKINAWA: D-DAY AND D-DAY PLUS ONE. CRUISED CHINA SEA IN TYPHOON FOR A MONTH. RETURNED TO SAIPAN. WITH THE 8TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, RETURNED TO TAKE TWO ISLANDS, IHEYA SHIMA AND AGUNI SHIMA NORTHWEST OF OKINAWA. WENT TO OKINAWA TO MAKE FINAL PUSH OF OKINAWA AND WWII. RETURNED TO SAIPAN. ATOM BOMB FELL ON HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI. THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION WAS SENT TO OCCUPY NAGASAKI. OVERSAW FIRST FREE ELECTION, INCLUDING WOMEN'S VOTE.