World War II Honoree

Lester O. Gundersgaard

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Gary, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps October 7, 1943 with induction at Indianapolis, Indiana. He completed 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. 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. Thursday, February 22, 1945 he was mortally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him 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 Mount Hope Cemetery Ashland, Wisconsin. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.