World War II Honoree

Kenneth Laverne Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Fairbury, Nebraska

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 6, 1940 from Arkansas, with recruit training assigned to the Second 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. Following basic and advanced infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. He served as a Rifleman with Alpha Company, First Battalion and Fourth Marine Regiment, which participated in the Battle of Corregidor (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). Reported missing in action or buried at sea May 6, 1942, during a combat operation against the Imperial Japanese forces. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Fairbury Cemetery Location: Fairbury, Nebraska. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.