World War II Honoree

Kenneth Russell Gray

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps April 3, 1938 at Boston, Massachusetts, with recruit training assigned to the Fourth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for combat training. Served as a Rifle Team Leader with the Fourth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Alpha Company, First Battalion and Twenty-Fourth 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 Friday, March 2, 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 received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest April 8, 1948 at the Long Island National Cemetery in Long Island, New York. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.