World War II Honoree

John J. Ward, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Blackstone, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED AS A PLATOON LEADER ASSIGNED TO F-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 24TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. ON MONDAY, JULY 24, 1944, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON THE ISLAND OF TINIAN (24 JULY-1 AUGUST 1944), MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. HE WAS BURIED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON TINIAN. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE LAKEVIEW CEMETERY, BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA. DECORATION AND CITATION: RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR POSTHUMOUSLY. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE.