World War II Honoree

William B. Zukowski

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On April 12, 1944, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Minnesota. His boot camp training took place with the Fifth 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 Third Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Fox Company, Second Battalion and Ninth 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 Tuesday, February 27, 1945 and buried in the Third 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 April 10, 1948 at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.