World War II Honoree

Lee Berrien Powell

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On August 17, 1942, he entered the United States Marine Corps as an enlistee from California, receiving his combat infantry training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Served in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Marine ‘Engineer’ Regiment a subordinate unit of the 2nd Marine ‘The Silent Second’ Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army forces on the island of Tinian (Battle Dates: July 24–August 1, 1944) Mariana Islands Campaign. Killed in action Saturday, July 29, 1944 and buried in the American Cemetery on Tinian. Experienced combat in a previous operation/campaign: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were transferred to Honolulu, with interment March 14, 1949 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. 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. The following Decorations awarded posthumously: Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two battle stars and the WWII Victory Medal. This Marine, an American Patriot, so gallantly gave his life for his country.