World War II Honoree

Robert Paul Elder

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Otis, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On January 20, 1940, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps at Denver, Colorado. His boot camp training took place with the Fourth 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 Machine Gun team Leader with the Twenty-Second Marine Regiment in the North Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Alpha Company, Second Battalion and Fifth Amphibious Corps. His regiment participated in the Battle of Eniwetok Atoll (Battle Dates: February 17-23, 1944) Code name: Operation Flintlock, Marshall Islands Campaign. Killed in Action Friday, February 18, 1944 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces on the Island of Engebi, and buried in the Coral Sands battlefield cemetery on Kirinian Island. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest at the McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.