World War II Honoree

Paul Vangle Anastas

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS JUNE 14, 1943 AND PARTICIPATED IN BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLANDS, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH THE 8TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY BATTALION, 8TH MARINE REGIMENT, A SUBORDINATE UNIT OF THE SECOND MARINE DIVISION. HE FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA, CODE NAME: OPERATION ICEBERG (INVASION DATES: EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 1-JUNE 22, 1945). ON THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1945 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND BURIED IN THE SIXTH MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. THE EIGHTY DAY BATTLE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ‘THE TYPHOON OF STEEL’ AND BECAME THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT OF WWII. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS COUNTRY AND FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.