World War II Honoree

Henry Powless

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Largo, Florida

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On December 16, 1940, he entered the United States Marine Corps from New York, receiving his Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. Served with Company-A as a tractor driver, 2nd Armored Amphibian Tractor Battalion 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. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Saturday, November 20, 1943 on the first day of the invasion, his name is recorded in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. Experienced combat in a previous operation/campaign: Guadalcanal Solomon Islands Campaign. This Marine, a Native American Indian, a descendant of the Onondaga ‘Iroquois’ Tribe and a Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.