World War II Honoree

Lawrence E. Gorman

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Albany, New York

Honored By

Lawrence J. Gorman

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED IN U.S. MARINES AT AGE 17. PROUDLY SERVED WITH 1ST PLATOON, 2ND BATTALION, 25TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE DIVISION. LANDED ON IWO JIMA ON D-DAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1945. AT 24 DAYS AFTER D-DAY, USING GRENADES AND A BAR, KILLED NUMEROUS JAPANESE AND WIPED OUT A JAPANESE PILLBOX HOLDING UP FORWARD ADVANCEMENT. ON MARCH 14, AFTER 24 DAYS ON THE FRONT LINES, WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED BY TWO GRENADES AND 3 BULLETS WHILE THROWING A GRENADE TO TAKE OUT JAPANESE ENTRENCHED IN A CAVE. SPENT THE NEXT 14 MONTHS ON NAVAL HOSPITAL SHIPS AND IN NAVAL HOSPITALS AND WAS GIVEN LAST RITES TWICE DURING RECOVERY.