World War II Honoree

Joe Lee Odom

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Houston, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On February 9, 1943, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Texas. His boot camp training took place with the Fifth Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. Later he completed his Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. Served as a Rifleman with the Fourth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Lima Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-Fourth Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Japanese Imperial Army forces on the island of Saipan, (Battle Dates: June 15-July 9, 1944), Northern Mariana Islands Campaign. Killed in action Saturday, July 8, 1944 and buried in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery on Saipan. His name has been etched on one of the Twenty-Six granite plates, located in the court of Honor, American Memorial on Saipan. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest at the Brookland Cemetery in Haslam, Texas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.