World War II Honoree

William Emmett Duke

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Phenix City, Alabama

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On May 29, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Alabama. 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 a Rifle team Leader with the Sixth Marine Division in the Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to India Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-Second Marine Regiment. His division participated in the Battle of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands Code Name: Operation Iceberg. Killed in action Sunday, April 1, 1945 on the first day of the invasion during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried in the First Marine Division Battlefield Cemetery on Okinawa. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that his remains be transferred to Honolulu. He was laid to rest March 3, 1949 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.