World War II Honoree

Robert Wray Fox

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Kansas City, Missouri

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On August 28, 1942, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Missouri, receiving his Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Served as a Rifleman with Company H, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment a subordinate unit of the Second Marine ‘The Silent Second’ Division in the Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese army forces on the Island of Betio, ‘Battle of Tarawa’ Gilbert Islands Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Killed in Action Saturday, November 20, 1943 on the first day of the invasion and buried in the Lone Palm Battlefield Cemetery located on Betio Island. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were transferred to Honolulu, with interment January 31, 1949 at the National Memorial Cemetery ‘Punchbowl’, Hawaii. His family has placed a Memorial Marker at the Green Lawn Cemetery in Rich Hill, Missouri. This Marine, an American Patriot awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.