World War II Honoree

Wesley Reginal Clinton

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Brinkley, Arkansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps October 2, 1943 at Little Rock, Arkansas and completed his basic training, with the First Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California for his combat training. Served as a rifleman with the Fourth Marine Division in the Northwestern Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Charlie Company, First Battalion and Twenty-Fourth Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the island of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (Battle Dates: June 15-July 9, 1944). Killed in action Saturday, July 8, 1944 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried in the U.S. armed forces battlefield cemetery on Saipan. His name has been etched on one of the Twenty-Sixth granite plates, located in the court of Honor, American Memorial on Saipan. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial, with interment at the Oaklawn Cemetery in Brinkley, Arkansas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.