World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Howard Ralph Pratt
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Sylvania, Ohio
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MARINE CORPS JULY 17, 1942 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO 1ST BATTALION, 24TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA, CODE NAME: OPERATION DETACHMENT. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1945 ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE ASSAULT AND WAS BURIED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON IWO. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE DISINTERRED AND TRANSFERRED TO OAHU, WITH INTERMENT IN THE HONOLULU NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC ‘PUNCHBOWL’, HAWAII. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE, THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.