World War II Honoree

Robert Gayle Morgan

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Oak Grove, Alabama

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST BATTALION, 25TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1945 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE D-DAY ASSAULT LANDING DURING THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA (19 FEBRUARY-26 MARCH 1945), CODE NAME: OPERATION DETACHMENT, IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. HE WAS BURIED IN THE FOURTH MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON IWO, AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO HONOLULU, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.