World War II Honoree

Robert Leroy Peterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Long Beach, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST BATTALION, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1945 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA AND WAS BURIED IN THE FIRST MARINE 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 WORLD WAR II. 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 SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.