World War II Honoree

Brice J. Hallows

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Aurora, Utah

Honored By

Tim Hallows

Relationship

Son

COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND MARINE TRAINING AT CAMP JOSEPH H. PENDLETON AT OCEAN SIDE, CALIFORNIA. HIS GROUP BOARDED A TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP (USS ADMIRAL C.F. HUGHES) HEADING FOR THE ISLAND OF GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLAND GROUP. AFTER A BRIEF TOUR ON GUAM HE BOARDED ANOTHER SHIP SAILING TO OKINAWA, THE LARGEST ISLAND IN THE RYUKYU CHAIN. ON OKINAWA, HE WAS EXPOSED TO CONSTANT RIFLE FIRE, LARGE ARTILLERY EMBATTLEMENTS, EXPLOSIONS AND FIGHTER PLANES OVER HEAD. HE WAS AN EXPERT RIFLEMAN ON A THREE-MAN RIFLE TEAM. ON ONE OCCASION HE HAD HIS RIFLE SHOT OUT OF HIS HANDS, AND OVER TIME ENDURED MANY OTHER CLOSE CALLS, FEELING A PROTECTION BEYOND HIS OWN ABILITIES. HE DUG MANY FOX-HOLES FOR SURVIVAL AND PROTECTION, STRUNG WIRES FOR FIELD COMMUNICATIONS, BLASTED CAVES, CARRIED OUT WOUNDED MEN AND PARTICIPATED IN AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON THE RYUKYU PENINSULA, FOR WHICH HIS REGIMENT RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH BATTLE STAR. LOST PARTIAL HEARING IN ONE EAR FROM FIGHTING NEXT TO A HEAVY TANK ALL DAY AND ENDURING THE CONSTANT POUNDING OF ITS BIG GUN JUST OVER HEAD. AFTER THE SURRENDER, HE WAS PRIVILEGED ON JULY 4, 1945 TO BE CHOSEN AS AN HONORARY RIFLEMAN TO SHOOT VOLLEYS OVER THE 6TH MARINE DIVISION CEMETERY DEDICATION ON OKINAWA. SHORTLY AFTER THAT HE FELL SICK AND HAD TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY IN A MASH TENT. UPON RECOVERY, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 22ND MARINE REGIMENT TO GO TO TSINGTAO, NORTH CHINA TO AFFECT THE SURRENDER OF JAPANESE TROOPS THERE AND REMOVE JAPANESE NATIONALS LIVING IN THIS PROVINCE. HIS UNIT ESCORTED MANY BACK TO JAPAN ON LST TRANSPORTS.