World War II Honoree

Bill Carl Ray Coats, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Thayer, Missouri

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On May 7, 1944, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Missouri, receiving his Boot Camp Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Later he completed his Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton. Served with Company-G as a Rifleman, Second Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, a subordinate unit of the First Marine ‘The Old Breed’ Division in the Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the Amphibious Assault against the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval Forces in the Battle of Okinawa (Battle Dates: Easter Sunday, April 1-June 22, 1945) Code Name: Operation Iceberg. Killed in action Thursday, May 10, 1945 and buried in the First Division Cemetery on Okinawa. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his family received his remains for burial, with interment at the Thayer Cemetery in Thayer, Missouri. This Marine, an American Patriot, so gallantly gave his life for his country.