World War II Honoree

Marvin Francis Goins

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Old Glory, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On November 25, 1940, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps at Dallas, Texas. His boot camp training took place with the Second 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 Rifle Team Leader with the Second Marine Division in the Central Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Bravo Company, First Battalion and Eighth Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese forces in the Battle of Tarawa. The combat engagement took place on the Island of Betio, located on the Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Monday, November 22, 1943 on the Third day of the invasion. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. He received the following decorations posthumously: Silver Star and the Purple Heart. The Silver Star awarded for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.