World War II Honoree

Wayne Lamar Owen

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Honored By

Joe D. Waldrum

Relationship

Cousin

HE ENLISTED AT LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS 28 MAY 1943. HE WENT TO SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA TO BOOT CAMP 11 AUGUST 1943 FOR 12 WEEKS AT CAMP MATTHEWS. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO HAWAII IN DECEMBER,1943 WHERE HE JOINED C COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 2ND MARINE DIVISION FOR TRAINING. HE SAILED FOR SAIPAN 9 MAY 1944 WHERE HE LANDED ON 15 JUNE 1944. HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART FOR A LEG WOUND IN ACTION THERE. HE SAW FURTHER ACTION AT TINIAN AND OKINAWA. HE RETURNED TO SAIPAN WITH THE 2ND MARINES AS THE OCCUPYING FORCE. AFTER THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN, HE TOOK UP OCCUPATION DUTIES WITH THE REGIMENT IN NAGASAKI, JAPAN. HE ACHIEVED THE RANK OF CORPORAL.