World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Clinton J. Ecker, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Marion, Kansas
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 18, 1941 with induction at Kansas City, Missouri. He completed basic training with the First 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. He served as a Rifle Team Leader with Alpha Company, First Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, an element of the Second Marine Division Location: Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Saturday, November 20, 1943 he was mortally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial army forces. Succeeding the Battle, his Brothers-in-Arms buried him in the Betio Lone Palm battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Marion Cemetery Marion, Kansas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.