World War II Honoree

John H. Mooncotch

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Ziegler, Illinois

Honored By

Judith Ann, Judi Jr.,Freda, and Alisa Joy Mooncotch

Relationship

Wife and Daughters

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, SERVED FROM NOVEMBER 11, 1943 TO MAY 16, 1946 WITH COMPANY B, 5TH PIONEER BATTALION, 5TH MARINE DIVISION, 27TH MARINES, V AMPHIBIOUS CORPS. DEPARTED CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA IN DECEMBER 1944, TRAINED FURTHER AT CAMP TARAWA NEAR HILO, HAWAII, AND DEPARTED BY SHIP IN JANUARY 1945. PASSED SAIPAN AND GUAM AND LANDED ON IWO JIMA WITH THE 5TH WAVE ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945 WITH THE 5TH PIONEERS AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY FOR 35 DAYS, INCLUDING THE FINAL DESPERATE SUICIDE ATTACK BY THE JAPANESE. THE 5TH MARINE DIVISION DEPARTED ON MARCH 27, 1945 TO HAWAII, HAVING SUSTAINED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AMONG THE INVASION FORCE. ALSO LATER SERVED IN NAGASAKI, JAPAN AND CHINA AS PART OF THE OCCUPATIONAL FORCES. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS, THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE CAMPAIGN STAR AND THE BRONZE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ARROWHEAD, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE NAVY OCCUPATION MEDAL, THE CHINA SERVICE MEDAL AS WELL AS EARNING THE MARINE CORPS EXPERT RIFLE AND EXPERT PISTOL BADGES. DISCHARGED AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.