World War II Honoree

Vernon Ennis Putnam

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Blountsville, Alabama

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 17, 1938 at Los Angeles, California, with recruit training assigned to the First 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 Heavy Machine Gunner in the beach defenses of Corregidor, with Dog Company, First Battalion and Fourth Marine Regiment. His unit participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval Forces (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942). Reported missing in action April 24, 1942, during combat operations 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 Mount Tabor Cemetery Location: Blountsville, Alabama. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.