World War II Honoree

John Bennie Zwanch

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Jessup, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps August 5, 1943 from Pennsylvania. His boot camp training took place with the Thirteenth 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 Rifle team leader with the Fifth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Baker Company and Fifth Engineer Battalion. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Killed in Action Tuesday, February 20, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, 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 January 13, 1949 at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.