World War II Honoree

Francisco Esteban Paredes

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Brownsville, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On April 18, 1944, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps at Dallas, Texas. His boot camp training took place with the Third 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 First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division in the Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Golf Company, Second Battalion and Seventh 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 Saturday, May 12, 1945 and buried in the First Marine Division Battlefield Cemetery on Okinawa. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid at rest at the Buena Vista Burial Park Cemetery in Brownsville, Texas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.