World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Michael James 'Mike' Fenton
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
San Diego, California
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AUGUST 17, 1943 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO A SCOUT/SNIPER PLATOON, B-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA, CODE NAME: OPERATION ICEBERG, THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WWII. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, MAY 7, 1945 WHILE BEATING BACK A JAPANESE COUNTERATTACK DURING THE BATTLE FOR SUGAR LOAF HILL AND HE WAS BURIED IN THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE HONOLULU NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY ‘PUNCHBOWL’, HAWAII. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PURPLE HEART, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, MARINE CORPS GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO THE MARINE FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.