Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Philippi, West Virginia
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 HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 25TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA (FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 26, 1945), CODE NAME: OPERATION DETACHMENT. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1945, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND WAS BURIED IN THE UNITED STATES FOURTH MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON IWO. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE FORT BARRANCAS NATIONAL CEMETERY, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.