World War II Honoree

Elmer Cliff 'Bud' Barker

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Saginaw, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Platoon Sergeant. On January 29, 1940, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Michigan, receiving his Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where he served as a Infantry Unit Leader assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment a subordinate unit of the 2nd Marine ‘the Silent Second’ Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Japanese Imperial forces on the Island of Betio, Battle of Tarawa’ located on the Tarawa Atoll (Battle Dates: November 20–November 23, 1943) Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Killed in Action Monday, November 22, 1943 and buried in the Lone Palm Battlefield Cemetery on Betio. He had experienced combat in a previous campaign, the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were transferred to Honolulu, with interment January 28, 1949 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. Military Decorations: Purple Heart, Marine Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two battle stars and the WWII Victory Medal. This Marine, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.