World War II Honoree

Raymond Gerow

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Paw Paw, Michigan

Honored By

Dr. and Mrs. James E. Wheeler

Relationship

Friends

ENLISTED AT DETROIT, MICHIGAN, DECEMBER 11, 1942. HE WAS IN L BATTERY, 4TH BATTALION, 13TH REGIMENT, 5TH MARINE DIVISION. HIS WEAPONS QUALIFICATION, RIFLE, EXPERT, JANUARY 28, 1943; BAYONET QUALIFICATION, FEBRUARY 3, 1943. HIS SPECIAL MILITARY QUALIFICATION WAS WIRE CHIEF. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA, SEPTEMBER 4, 1944 TO NOVEMBER 24, 1945. HE FOUGHT AGAINST THE ENEMY AT IWO JIMA, VOLCANO ISLANDS, FEBRUARY 19, 1945 TO MARCH 27, 1945 AND IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN. RECEIVED SHRAPNEL WOUND AS FORWARD OBSERVER TEAMS MOVED TO FRONT LINES. HE WAS AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 1 STAR, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, AND THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN MEDAL. HIS CHARACTER OF SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. HIS RANK WAS CORPORAL WHEN HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH A CERTIFICATE AWARDED AS A TESTIMONIAL OF FIDELITY AND OBEDIENCE.