World War II Honoree

William I. Compton, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Colorado. Served as a Rifleman with the Fourth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion and Twenty-Third 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, February 27, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried in the Fourth Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. 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 February 23, 1949 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice.