World War II Honoree

William H. Walsh

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Dunmore, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Bill Walsh

Relationship

Son

CORPORAL. FOUGHT AT THE BATTLE OF KWAJALEIN. DURING THE BATTLE OF KWAJALEIN, THE UNITED STATES LAUNCHED A TWIN ASSAULT ON THE MAIN ISLANDS OF KWAJALEIN IN THE SOUTH AND ROI NAMUR IN THE NORTH. THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION LANDED ON ROI NAMUR ON FEBRUARY 1, 1943. THE AIRFIELD ON ROI (THE EASTERN HALF) WAS CAPTURED QUICKLY, AND NAMUR (THE WESTERN HALF) FELL THE NEXT DAY. THE WORST SETBACK CAME WHEN A MARINE DEMOLITION TEAM THREW A SATCHEL CHARGE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES INTO A JAPANESE BUNKER WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A TORPEDO WARHEAD MAGAZINE. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION KILLED 20 MARINES AND WOUNDED DOZENS MORE. THE JAPANESE DEFENDERS PUT UP STIFF RESISTANCE THOUGH OUTNUMBERED AND UNDER-PREPARED. THE DETERMINED DEFENSE OF ROI NAMUR LEFT ONLY 51 JAPANESE SURVIVORS OF AN ORIGINAL GARRISON OF 3,500. THE BATTLE OF KWAJALEIN LEFT THE AMERICAN’S WITH 372 DEAD AND 1,592 WOUNDED.