World War II Honoree

Robert Henry Agnew

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On April 13, 1942, he entered the United States Marine Corps from California, receiving his Marine Combat Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Served with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine ‘The Silent Second’ Division in the Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese forces in the Battle of Tarawa, on the Island of Betio, located on the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands (Battle Dates: November 20–November 23, 1943) Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Killed in Action Sunday, November 21, 1943 on the second day of the invasion and buried in the Lone Palm Cemetery located on Betio Island. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his family received his remains for burial, with interment October 30, 1947 at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. Experienced Combat in a previous Operation: Guadalcanal Campaign. He received the following Awards and Citations: Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars and the WWII Victory Medal. This Marine, an American Patriot awarded the Silver Star posthumously for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force. The Purple Heart was also, awarded posthumously, as he so gallantly gave his life for his country.