World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Sam Morgan
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Crown Point, New Mexico
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private First Class. On May 28, 1943, he entered the United States Marine Corps from New Mexico, receiving his Boot Camp Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Later he completed Navajo Code Talkers Radio School at Camp Pendleton, California. Served in Company-A as a Rifleman, Tenth Amphibious Tractor Battalion, and a subordinate unit of the Fourth Marine ‘the Fighting Fourth’ Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Killed in action Tuesday, February 20, 1945 and buried in the Fourth Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were returned to his family for burial, with interment December 21, 1948 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This American Patriot, a Native Indian citizen, a descendant of the Navajo Tribe was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.