World War II Honoree

Raymond C. Frost

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

East Douglas, Massachusetts

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON AUGUST 3, 1942. ONE OF THE ‘BOYS OF DOUGLAS’ WHO SERVED DURING THE WAR. TRAINED AND SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, AND SAILED FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ON JANUARY 13, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 4TH MARINE 'FIGHTING FOURTH' DIVISION DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING AT ROI-NAMUR IN THE KWAJALEIN ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS; CAMP MAUI IN HAWAII; AND SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. HIS DIVISION WAS THE FIRST MARINE CORPS DIVISION TO BE COMMITTED FROM THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES DIRECTLY INTO COMBAT. HIS UNIT ASSAULTED ROI-NAMUR ON JANUARY 31, 1944, MET LITTLE RESISTANCE AND SECURED THE ISLANDS BY FEBRUARY 8, 1944. HIS DIVISION THEN ASSAULTED SAIPAN ON JUNE 15, 1944, MET FIERCE RESISTANCE AND CLEARED THE SOUTHERN END OF THE ISLAND BY JUNE 20, 1944, EXCEPT FOR NUMEROUS CAVES AND BUNKERS. CORPORAL FROST WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON JULY 3, 1944 DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS TO TAKE MOUNT TAPOTCHAU ON SAIPAN. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN COMBAT ON SAIPAN, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.