World War II Honoree

Richard Carmichael Paca

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Englewood, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On June 26, 1944, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps at Denver, Colorado. 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 Sixth Marine Division in the Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to India Company, Third Battalion and Fourth 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 Monday, May 21, 1945 and buried in the Sixth 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 to rest November 8, 1950 at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.