World War II Honoree

John Abbas

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Raymond, Minnesota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 27, 1942 at Minneapolis, Minnesota, with recruit training assigned to the Thirteenth 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 Rifle Team Leader with the Third Marine Division in the South Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to India Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-First Marine Regiment. His division participated in the Battle of Bougainville (Battle Dates: November 1, 1943–August 21, 1945), Solomon Islands Campaign Code Name: Operation Cherry Blossom. Killed in Action Wednesday, December 15, 1943 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese Forces and buried in the U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery, Finschaffen #3 British New Guinea Island. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest at the Bethany Reformed Cemetery in Clara City, Minnesota. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.