World War II Honoree

John Elvin York

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Liberty, North Carolina

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. He entered into the United States Marine Corps at Raleigh, North Carolina, 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, Twenty-Fifth Marine Regiment and an element of the Fourth Marine Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault, and occupation of Iwo Jima Island Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. On Sunday, March 11, 1945 he was mortally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Fourth Marine Division Iwo battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Methodist Church Cemetery in Liberty, North Carolina. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.