World War II Honoree

Martin S. Edelen

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps November 5, 1942 with induction at Denver, Colorado. He completed basic training with the Fourth 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 Alpha Company, First Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, an element of the Second Marine Division Location: Northwestern Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the island of Saipan, (Battle Dates: June 15-July 9, 1944) Mariana Islands. Sunday, July 2, 1944 he was mortally wounded, during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the Second Marine Division Saipan Battlefield cemetery. His name has been etched on one of the Twenty-Sixth granite plates, located in the court of Honor, American Memorial on Saipan. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, with interment February, 23, 1949 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.