World War II Honoree

Raymond Rowland Wagner

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CORPORAL. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FEBRUARY 22, 1943. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH LIMA COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 4TH MARINES, SIXTH MARINE ‘THE STRIKING SIXTH’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA (INVASION DATES: EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 1-JUNE 22, 1945), CODENAMED: OPERATION ICEBERG WAS FOUGHT ON THE RYUKYU ISLANDS OF OKINAWA, THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WORLD WAR II. ON SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1945, 1945 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND WAS BURIED IN THE SIXTH DIVISION CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. PRIOR TO THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA, HE HAD FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE FOR PELELIU, ONE OF THE PALAU ISLANDS OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND WAS WOUNDED ON SUGARLOAF HILL. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH MILITARY HONORS, AND INTERMENT IN THE VETERANS’ LAWN PLOT, LINCOLN MEMORIAL PARK PORTLAND, OREGON ON JUNE 3, 1949. DECORATION AND CITATION: PURPLE HEART WITH A GOLD STAR. THIS MARINE, AN AMERICAN PATRIOT, WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.