World War II Honoree

Francis B. Healy, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CORPORAL. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS NOVEMBER 2, 1942 AND COMPLETED BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO BRAVO-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 8TH MARINES, 2ND MARINE ‘THE SILENT SECOND’ DIVISION. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1945 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA AND WAS BURIED IN THE SECOND DIVISION CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA (APRIL 1-JUNE 22, 1945), CODE NAME: OPERATION ICEBERG WAS THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WWII. PRIOR TO THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA, HE HAD FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF TARAWA (NOVEMBER 20-23, 1943) GILBERT ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE BALTIMORE NATIONAL CEMETERY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.