World War II Honoree

Durward R. Dunn

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Burlington, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps September 9, 1940 at Denver, Colorado, 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 as a Rifle Team Leader with the Fifth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Dog Company, First Battalion and Twenty-Eighth 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 Thursday, March 1, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial 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, laid to rest at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas on April 19, 1948 with Military Honors. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.