World War II Honoree

Frank Joseph Ward, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On April 5, 1943, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps at Denver, Colorado. 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 Rifle Team Leader with the Fifth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to India Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-Eighth 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 Sunday, March 11, 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 Mount Olivet Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.