World War II Honoree

David P. Pilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Kentucky

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUGUST 7, 1943 AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. SERVED IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH F-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 383RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, 96TH INFANTRY ‘DEADEYE’ DIVISION ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. 10TH ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA (1 APRIL-22 JUNE 1945) CODE NAME: OPERATION ICEBERG, THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WWII. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1945 IN GAKAZU RIDGE AREA AND WAS BURIED IN THE NINETY SIXTH DIVISION CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE CALVARY CEMETERY, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.