World War II Honoree

John M. Pilley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Belfast, Maine

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On February 24, 1941, he entered the United States Army as a member of the National Guard. Deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where he served as a Rifleman assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion, 103rd Regiment a subordinate unit of the 43rd Infantry ‘Winged Victory’ Division. He participated in the assault on the Island of New Georgia located in the Solomon Islands (Battle Dates: June 20-October 7, 1943) Code Name: Operation Cartwheel. On Tuesday, July 6, 1943, he died of wounds sustained during the invasion of the island and buried in the Battlefield Cemetery on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were returned to his family for burial, with interment in the Grove Cemetery in Belfast, Maine. This Soldier, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.