World War II Honoree

Clarence S. Wheeler, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Freedom, Maine

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps November 3, 1941 at Augusta, Maine, completing basic training with the Second Recruit Battalion Recruit Depot; Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for combat training. Following infantry training, he served as a Rifle Team Leader with Fox Company, Second Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, an element of the Second Marine Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the island of Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands Campaign Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. Friday, September 15, 1944 he was mortally wounded, during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese army forces, with burial in the U.S. Armed Forces Tinian battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, with interment January 27, 1949. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.