Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Clinton, Oklahoma
Honored By
Friends of American Heroes
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL HE WORKED FOR THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, WHICH HE LEFT IN 1943 TO ENLIST IN THE MARINE CORPS. HE COMPLETED MARINE OFFICER TRAINING AND SERVED ON SAIPAN, GUAM AND IWO JIMA. HE WAS AWARDED A BRONZE STAR FOR HIS PERFORMANCE LEADING A WEAPONS PLATOON DURING 29 DAYS OF FIGHTING ON IWO JIMA. ALSO SERVED AS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE RETIRED FROM THE RESERVE AS A COLONEL IN 1972.