World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
John Riley York
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Wilson, Arkansas
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 9, 1942 at Little Rock, Arkansas, with recruit training at the Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina. After his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for combat training. He served as a Rifleman, assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion, Second Marine Regiment and an element of the Second Marine Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault, and occupation of Saipan Island Location: Northwestern Pacific Theater of Operations. On Tuesday, June 27, 1944 he was mortally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Second Marine Division Saipan Battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Memphis National Cemetery located at Memphis, Tennessee, with interment December 16, 1948. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.