World War II Honoree

Clyde Edmond Aikens

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Lenoir, North Carolina

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 2ND BATTALION, 23RD MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1945 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE D-DAY ASSAULT LANDING IN THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA (FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 26, 1945), CODE NAME: OPERATION DETACHMENT IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. HE WAS BURIED IN THE FOURTH MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON IWO. 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: PURPLE HEART. THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.