World War II Honoree

Gilbert Nicholas Costa

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On January 6, 1943, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Pennsylvania. His boot camp training took place with the Thirteenth 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 Sixth Marine Division in the Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Golf Company, Second Battalion and Twenty-Ninth 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 Sunday, May 13, 1945 and buried in the Sixth Marine Division Cemetery on Okinawa. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest March 24, 1949 at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.