World War II Honoree

John P. Costa

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Champaign, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On July 3, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Illinois. His boot camp training took place with the Sixth 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 Second Marine Division in the Northwestern Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Fox Company, Second Battalion and Sixth 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). Killed in action Friday, June 16, 1944 and buried in the U.S armed forces battlefield 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 Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Champaign, Illinois. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.