World War II Honoree

Jack A. Casey

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Lynbrook, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS JANUARY 14, 1942 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AFTER HIS GRADUATION FROM OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL ‘OCS’ AT THE MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 2ND MARINES, 2ND MARINE ‘THE SILENT SECOND’ DIVISION. HE SAW ACTION IN THE BATTLE OF TARAWA LOCATED IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS AND PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS IN THE BATTLE OF SAIPAN (15 JUNE-9 JULY 1944) MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. ON SUNDAY, JULY 9, 1944 THE LAST DAY OF ORGANIZED RESISTANCES, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND BURIED IN THE ARMY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON SAIPAN. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE GARDEN OF MEMORIES CEMETERY, LUFKIN, TEXAS. DECORATION AND CITATION: PURPLE HEART. THE LIEUTENANT WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.