World War II Honoree

Norbert Othmar Otto

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On January 2, 1942, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Wisconsin, receiving his Marine Combat Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. Served with Company-E as a Rifleman, Second Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, a subordinate unit of the Second Marine ‘The Silent Second’ Division in the Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese army forces on Betio Island, Tarawa atoll in the 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 Cemetery on Betio Island. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his family received his remains for burial, with interment at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery November 7, 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received the following awards and citation: 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 Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.