World War II Honoree

Paul H. Bird

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Wiley, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Major. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps May 28, 1935 from Colorado, and served as an infantry Officer with Headquarters Company, First Battalion, Twenty-Second Marine Regiment a subordinate unit of the Sixth Marine Division Location: Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the Battle of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands (Battle Dates: Easter Sunday, April 1–June 22, 1945) Code Name: Operation Iceberg. April 11, 1945 he was mortally wounded during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the Sixth Marine Division Battlefield Cemetery on Okinawa. In the post-era his family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Fairmont Cemetery Lamar, Colorado. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.