World War II Honoree

Jesse Ellinwood Nail

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Grand Junction, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private 1st Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps May 25, 1942 and received his Basic Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Served in the Pacific Theater and experienced combat assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine ‘The Silent Second’ Division. Participated in the Battle of Tarawa, which was fought on the Island of Betio located on the Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands (Invasion Dates: November 20-November 23, 1943), Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Wednesday, November 24, 1943 he died of wounds sustained in combat and buried at sea by Administrative Decision. In memory, he is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing, Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. Decoration and Citation: Purple Heart. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart, who so gallantly gave his life for his Country.