World War II Honoree

John Henry Gress, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Troy, New York

Honored By

M. Lynett

At the age of 16 he chose to enlist in the Marine Corps and served valiantly in the Pacific Theater of Operations. As a Corporal and as member of an assault engineer platoon, attached to the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, he was in combat in Kwajalein Atoll, Roi Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. He is noted for raising the American Flag on Saipan to mark the securing of the island. Furthermore, he has received many prestigious military awards including: The Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Commendation Citation. He was wounded at Iwo Jima.