World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
John Owen Owens
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Rocky Ford, Colorado
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps November 19, 1942 at Denver, Colorado. Following his Basic Military Training at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California and infantry training at Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California. And along with any additional training; he was deployed to the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. He served in Company Lima as a Rifleman, assigned to the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines and an element of the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault, and occupation of Peleliu Island. Monday, September 25, 1944 he was reported “Missing-in-Action”, after a combat engagement with the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. In his Memory, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.