World War II Honoree

Duwayne R. Mittelstaedt

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Appleton, Wisconsin

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On December 11, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Wisconsin. His boot camp training took place with the Ninth 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 Fifth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Fox Company, Second Battalion and Twenty-Seventh Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Killed in Action Monday, March 8, 1945 and buried in the Fifth Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest at the Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Appleton, Wisconsin. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.