World War II Honoree

James E. Cotton

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps May 7, 1943 at Dallas, Texas, with recruit training assigned to the second 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 combat training. Served as a Rifleman with the First Provisional Marine Brigade in the Central Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-Second Marine Regiment. His unit participated in the Battle of Guam against the Imperial Japanese forces (Dates of Battle: July 21-August 10, 1944). Killed in action Saturday, July 22, 1944 on the second day of the invasion, and buried in the Brigade cemetery, located on the Orote Peninsula. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest, April 6, 1948 at the Restland Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.