World War II Honoree

Henry R. Gertsel

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Venice, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 8, 1942 at Los Angeles, California, completing basic training with the Eighth Recruit Battalion Recruit Depot; Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California for combat training. Following infantry training, he served in the Communication Section, assigned to Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, Twenty-Second Marine Regiment, a subordinate unit of the Fifth Amphibious Corps Location: North Pacific Theater of Operations. His regiment participated in the Battle of Eniwetok Atoll (Battle Dates: February 17-23, 1944) Code name: Operation Flintlock, Marshall Islands Campaign. Wednesday, February 21, 1944 he was mortally wounded on Eniwetok Island, during a combat operation against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the Coral Sands battlefield cemetery, Kirinian Island. In the post-war era, his family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City, California. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.