World War II Honoree

William F. Ziegler

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 27, 1942 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with recruit training assigned to the Eleventh Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for combat training. Served as a Rifleman with the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division Location: Southwestern Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Baker Company, First Battalion and Fifth Marine Regiment. His Division participated in the amphibious assault on the island of Guadalcanal (Battle Dates: August 7, 1942-February 9, 1943) Solomon Islands Campaign, Code Name: Operation Watchtower. Killed in Action November 1, 1942 during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese Forces, with burial in the First Marine Division battlefield cemetery, Guadalcanal. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that he be buried at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, with interment January 13, 1949. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.