World War II Honoree

Paul Begay

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Kayenta, Arizona

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On December 1, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Arizona. His boot camp training took place with the First Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. Later he completed Navajo Code Talkers Radio School at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. Served as a Rifleman with the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Headquarters Company, Third Battalion and Fifth Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces on the Island of New Britain, Battle of Cape Gloucester (Battle Dates: December 1943-April 1944) Code Name: Operation Cartwheel. Killed in action Tuesday, January 11, 1944 and buried in the United States Armed Forces battlefield cemetery, Finschaffen #2 British New Guinea. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that his remains be transferred to Manila. He was laid to rest at the American Cemetery in Fort William McKinley, Philippine Islands. 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.