World War II Honoree

John Frank Zahra

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 14, 1942 at Detroit, Michigan, with recruit training at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California, and infantry training at Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California. He served as a Rifleman, assigned to Bravo Company, First Engineer Battalion, and an element of the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault, and occupation of Peleliu Island Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. On Tuesday, October 3, 1944 he was fatally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the U.S. Armed Forces Peleliu battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.