World War II Honoree

Justin Green Mills

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Galveston, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: First Lieutenant. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps Reserves June 10, 1937 at Galveston, Texas, and re-enlisted June 9, 1942 while stationed in San Diego, California. Served as a Platoon Leader assigned to Charlie Company, First Battalion, Second Marine Regiment and Second Marine Division Location: Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese forces in the Battle of Tarawa. The combat engagement took place on the Island of Betio Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Reported missing in action or buried at sea November 20, 1943 on the first day of the invasion. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In June of 2015 the history flight, a private organization, discovered a collective burial grave on Betio Island. The remains were transferred to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency laboratory in Honolulu where he was identified. The family of this Marine requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery Location: Fort Myer Arlington, Virginia with interment April 29, 2020. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Silver Star and the Purple Heart. The Silver Star was awarded for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force, and the Purple Heart, for his ultimate sacrifice.