World War II Honoree

William J. Fenton, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Omaha, Nebraska

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MARINE CORPS DECEMBER 10, 1942 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO E-BATTERY, 2ND BATTALION, 14TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA, CODE NAME: OPERATION DETACHMENT. KILLED IN ACTION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1945 AND WAS BURIED IN THE FOURTH MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON IWO. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE HOLY SEPULCHRE CEMETERY OMAHA, NEBRASKA. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: MARSHALL ISLANDS, SAIPAN, TINIAN AND IWO JIMA. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: SILVER STAR AND PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE MARINE FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.