World War II Honoree

Gene M. Griggs

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Cameron, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps June 16, 1944 at Tucumcari, New Mexico, with recruit training assigned to the Fourth 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 Third Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned Headquarters Company, Third Battalion and Ninth Marine Regiment. 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, March 20, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried in the Third Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial, with interment at the Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery in Tucumcari, New Mexico. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.