World War II Honoree

Charles Junior Akers

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Fletcher, North Carolina

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On June 2, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from North Carolina. His boot camp training took place with the First Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. Later he completed his Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Served as a Rifleman with the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division in the Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Alpha Company, First Battalion and First Marine Regiment. His division participated in the Battle of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands against the Imperial Japanese and Naval forces (Battle Dates: Easter Sunday, April 1–June 22, 1945) Code Name: Operation Iceberg. Killed in action Friday, May 4, 1945 and buried in the First Marine Division Battlefield Cemetery on Okinawa. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that his remains be transferred to Honolulu. He was laid to rest March 10, 1949 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.