World War II Honoree

Francis V. Foley

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Marlborough, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church, III

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FROM MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942. BASIC TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. THEN TO CAMP LEJEUNE FOR RADIO OPERATOR TRAINING SCHOOL AND PARATROOPER TRAINING SCHOOL. SENT TO WEST COAST, THEN TO NEW CALEDONIA, IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE REGIMENT, 3RD MARINE DIVISION AS A BATTALION COMBAT RADIO OPERATOR. SHIPPED OUT AND LANDED AT RED BEACH ONE ON GUAM AND RECAPTURED AND HELD THE CAPITOL CITY, AGANA. SENT TO IWO JIMA IN READY RESERVE WAITING TO LAND, BUT UNIT WAS NEVER CALLED UPON. RETURNED TO GUAM, WAR WAS OVER. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 STARS, THE NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, THE MARINE CORPS GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND THE RIFLE MARKSMAN INSIGNIA. AS A CORPORAL, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1945.