World War II Honoree

Marius W. Christenson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

San Diego, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Second Lieutenant. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 19, 1939 from California. His boot camp training took place with the First 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 an Infantry Officer with the Second Marine Division in the Central Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Headquarters Company, First Battalion and Sixth Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese forces in the Battle of Tarawa. The combat engagement took place on the Island of Betio, located on the Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Killed in action Sunday, November 21, 1943 on the second day of the invasion, and buried in the Lone Palm battlefield cemetery on Betio. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial, with interment at the Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery in San Diego, California. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.