World War II Honoree

James August Zophy

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Sherrill, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 7, 1942 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed his basic training with the Seventh Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for his combat training. Served as a Rifleman with Alpha Company, assigned to the First Raider Battalion, attached to the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division in the Southwestern Pacific Theater of Operations. His Division participated in the amphibious assault on the island of Guadalcanal (Battle Dates: August 7, 1942-February 9, 1943) Solomon Islands Campaign, Code Name: Operation Watchtower. Killed in Action Friday, October 9, 1942 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese Forces and buried in the First Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Guadalcanal. 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 January 5, 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.