World War II Honoree

Elwin L. Alcock

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Fredericksburg, Iowa

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps May 17, 1943 with induction at Des Moines, Iowa, completing basic training with the Seventh 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 as a Rifleman with Baker Company, First Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marine Regiment, an element of the Fifth Marine Division Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima and occupation (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Monday, February 19, 1945 he was mortally wounded, during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the Fifth Marine Division Iwo battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Alcock Cemetery Location: Frederika, Iowa. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.