World War II Honoree

James Arwin Gray

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Sioux City, Iowa

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps May 6, 1943 at Des Moines, Iowa, with recruit training assigned to the Third 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 with the Second Marine Division in the Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to the Second Provisional Rocket Detachment, HeadQuarters Battalion, an element of the Division. His division participated in the Battle of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands (Battle Dates: Easter Sunday, April 1–June 22, 1945) Code Name: Operation Iceberg. Killed in action Thursday, June 21, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried in the First Marine Division Battlefield Cemetery on Okinawa. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest April 1, 1949 at the Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.