World War II Honoree

John J. Yakupco

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps September 18, 1942 at Hartford, Connecticut, with recruit training assigned to the Tenth 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 Headquarters Company, First Battalion and Twenty-Fifth 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 February 19, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the Fourth Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that he be buried at Saint Michael's Cemetery Location: Stratford, Connecticut. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.