World War II Honoree

Malcolm L. Pratt

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bellefontaine, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: LIEUTENANT COMMANDER. HE WAS A SURGEON ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE COMPANY, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GUADALCANAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1942 CODE NAME: OPERATION WATCHTOWER, ‘SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN’. KILLED IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1942 DURING A RECONNAISSANCE PATROL, CONSISTING OF TWENTY-FIVE MARINES ON THE MATANIKAU RIVER BEACH NEAR THE POINT CRUZ PENINSULA. THE PURPOSE OF THE MISSION WAS TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS THAT A NUMBER OF JAPANESE FORCES WERE WILLING TO SURRENDER TO THE AMERICANS. THE PATROL WAS AMBUSHED AND ANNIHILATED BY A GARRISON OF JAPANESE SOLDIERS, WITH TWO SURVIVORS, WHO MANAGED TO SWIM BACK TO FRIENDLY LINES. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1943 AND MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND THE GUADALCANAL AMERICAN MEMORIAL LOCATED ON GUADALCANAL. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.