World War II Honoree

Thomas Zebelsky

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Braddock, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On September 21, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Pennsylvania. His boot camp training took place with the Seventh 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 Second Marine Division in the Northwestern Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Echo Company, Second Battalion and Eighth Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army forces on the island of Saipan, (Battle Dates: June 15-July 9, 1944). Killed in action Monday, July 3, 1944 and buried in the U.S armed forces battlefield cemetery on Saipan. His name has been etched on one of the Twenty-Sixth granite plates, located in the court of Honor, American Memorial on Saipan. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest with Military Honors, September 3, 1949 at the Braddock Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.