World War II Honoree

X. L. Fulton

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

McAlester, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On September 16, 1941, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Oklahoma. His boot camp training took place with the Fourth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. After the completion of boot camp, he was accepted into the Flight Aviation Training program. Served as a Gunner/Radioman in the Douglas SBD Dauntless Scout/Dive Bomber, assigned to the Marine Scout Bombing Squadron ‘VMSB-141’ Marine Air Group-14; First Marine Air Wing. His unit was based at the Henderson Airfield on the island of Guadalcanal in the South-Western Pacific Theater of Operations. On November 13, 1942 a group of eight bombers were dispatched to destroy the mighty Imperial Japanese Battleship Hiei, and her armada of other warships. Subjected to continuous air attacks, the Hiei sank on the evening of November 14, 1942. Reported missing in action on the day of the mission along with his Pilot, who failed to return from the combat operation. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley in Manila, Philippine Islands. Later his missing in action status was amended to read killed in action February 19, 1945. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.