World War II Honoree

John Francis Casey, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Union City, New Jersey

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS NOVEMBER 21, 1942 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 25TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1944 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF SAIPAN (15 JUNE-9 JULY 1944), MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1944 AND WAS BURIED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON SAIPAN. 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.