World War II Honoree

Rufus Lee Abbe

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Walters, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private 1st Class. On June 12, 1941, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Oklahoma, receiving his Basic Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where he served as a Rifleman, assigned to Able Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment a subordinate unit of the Second Marine 'the Silent Second' Division. Experienced combat in the Battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa. He participated in the amphibious assault on the Island of Saipan (Battle Dates: June 15-July 9, 1944) Mariana Islands Campaign. On Friday, June 30, 1944, he died of wounds sustained in combat and buried in the Second Marine Division Battlefield Cemetery on Saipan. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, they returned his remains to his family for burial, with interment at the Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta, Oklahoma. In Remembrance and Honor of the Brave, his name appears on one of the Twenty-Six granite plates located in the Court of Honor at the American Memorial on Saipan. Decorations and Citations: Purple Heart, Marine Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation with Two Bronze Stars, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. This Marine, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.