World War II Honoree

Frank J. Owens

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Webster, North Carolina

Honored By

Family

MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT. SERVED ABOARD THE CRUISER USS LOUISVILLE, JANUARY 1941 TO MAY 1942, AS A POLICE SERGEANT AND AS A GUN CAPTAIN OF A 5” GUN CREW, SERVING IN COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS AND NEW GUINEA AREA. FROM MAY 1942 TO FEBRUARY 1943, HE SERVED AS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. FROM MARCH 1943 TO AUGUST 1945, HE SERVED WITH THE 1ST MARINE DEFENSE BATTALION, V AMPHIBIAN CORP, THE 7TH AND 16TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY BATTALIONS, FLEET MARINE FORCES, SERVING IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. AFTER JAPAN’S SURRENDER, HE SERVED WITH THE MARINE CORPS OCCUPATION FORCES IN KYUSHU, JAPAN. HE WAS AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.