World War II Honoree

Paul William Watson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Bloomington, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Illinois. He completed basic training with the Third 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 Radio Operator, assigned to 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. Saturday, March 3, 1945 he was reported missing in action or buried at sea, after a combat engagement against the Imperial Japanese forces. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart with Gold Star posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.