World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Lawrence E. Gray, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Bellows Falls, Vermont
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps at Rutland, Vermont. Served as a Rifleman with the Thirty-First Replacement Draft Battalion, attached to the Fifth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. 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 Monday, March 6, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried in the Fifth Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine received his remains for burial, and re-interred in an unidentified cemetery in Vermont. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.