World War II Honoree

Marvin D. Muse

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Columbiana, Alabama

Honored By

Granddaughter and Family

A MEMBER OF THE 1070TH PLATOON, 1ST DIVISION, U.S. MARINE CORPS. HE WAS STATIONED AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER THE ATTACKS AT PEARL HARBOR, THE 1070TH PLATOON WAS MOVED TO CAMP PENDLETON. HE WAS SENT TO MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. FROM THERE THE PLATOON TRAVELED TO GUADALCANAL FOR TRAINING. THIS WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF AMERICANS TO GAIN BACK TERRITORY FROM THE JAPANESE. THEIR NEXT STOP WAS AT NEW GUINEA, NORTH OF AUSTRALIA TO PICKUP SUPPLIES. THEIR FIRST COMBAT WAS SEEN AT CAPE GLOUCESTER LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF THE NEW BRITAIN ISLANDS, DECEMBER 1943 UNTIL MARCH 1944. AFTER THIS THEY MOVED ONTO PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS. SEPTEMBER 15, 1944 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 1944. HE WAS PART OF THE FIRST WAVE OF MARINES SENT TO THE ISLAND. THEIR JOB WAS TO BASICALLY CLEAR OUT THE LAND AND THE ARMY WAS TO FOLLOW THROUGH. WHILE ON THE ISLAND, HIS AMTRAK WAS HIT BY ENEMY FIRE. ON TO OKINAWA APRIL 1, 1945 UNTIL JUNE 21, 1945, LANDING ON EASTER SUNDAY. HIS DIVISION MAINTAINED SUPPLIES, TOOK WOUNDED BACK TO SEA AND ALSO ASSISTED WITH CLEARING OUT THE JAPANESE. THEY WERE ON THIS ISLAND WHEN THEY HEARD THE THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED.