World War II Honoree

Ray Durham Moon

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Mart, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps February 27, 1943 at Dallas, Texas, with recruit training assigned to the Sixth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California for combat training. Served as a Rifleman with the Third Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Charlie Company, First Battalion and Ninth 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 26, 1945 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the Third Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that he be buried at Mart Cemetery Location: Mart, Texas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.