World War II Honoree

William M. Farley

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Wyandanch, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 7, 1942 at New York City, New York, with recruit training assigned to the Sixth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was designated to attend the Marine Corps Aviation Flight Training Program. He served as a Navigator, abroad the PBJ-1H Patrol Bomber, and based at Stickell Airfield Location: Eniwetok Atoll, Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His unit was the Marine Squadron Six-Thirteen AKA: VMB-613 Squadron, Marine Air Group-31 and Fourth Marine Air Wing. February 6, 1945 the squadron departed Eniwetok on a bombing mission against the Japanese airfield on Ponape Island, Senyavin Islands. He was mortally wounded by a bomb fragment, while over the target. After returning to base, he was buried by his Brothers-in-Arms in the U.S. Armed Forces American cemetery on Japtan Island, Eniwetok Atoll. His remains were repatriated from Japtan Island, with burial at Long Island National Cemetery on October 23, 1947 Location: Farmingdale, Long Island, New York with Military Honors. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.