World War II Honoree

Woodford A. Allen

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Rosslyn, Kentucky

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On January 5, 1940, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Kentucky. His boot camp training took place with the Fifth Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base, Parris Island, South Carolina. Later he completed his Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Served as a Squad Leader, with the Fourth Marine Division in the North Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-Fifth Marine Regiment. The division participated in the amphibious assault against the Japanese forces on the Islands of Kwajalein (Invasion Dates: January 31- February 3, 1944) Code Name: Operation Flintlock, Marshall Islands Campaign. He died in a non-battle incident Friday, February 4, 1944 and was buried in the United States Armed Forces Battlefield cemetery on Ivan Island, Kwajalein Atoll. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest at the Crowe cemetery in Rosslyn, Kentucky. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.