World War II Honoree

William Thomas Casey

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS JUNE 15, 1942 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, CAMP LEJEUNE NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 1945, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING A COMBAT ENGAGEMENT IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA AND WAS BURIED IN THE FIRST DIVISION CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA (1 APRIL-22 JUNE 1945), CODE NAME: OPERATION ICEBERG WAS THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WWII. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY IN OHIO, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.