World War II Honoree

Philip Thomas Greco

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On January 28, 1943, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from New York. His boot camp training took place with the Ninth 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 Twenty-Second Marine Regiment in the North Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Charlie Company, First Battalion and Fifth Amphibious Corps. His regiment participated in the Battle of Eniwetok Atoll against the Imperial Japanese armed forces, (Battle Dates: February 17-23, 1944) Code name: Operation Hailstone, Marshall Islands Campaign. He died in a non-battle incident on March 10, 1944, and buried in the Coral Sands battlefield cemetery on Kirinian Island. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest May 17, 1948 at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale Long Island, New York. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.