World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
William R. Gibbons
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Sergeant. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 15, 1941 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 Central Pacific Theater of Operations. He served in Company Alpha as a Squad Leader, assigned to the First Battalion, Second Marines and an element of the Second Marine Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll Gilbert Islands Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Saturday, November 20, 1943 he was mortally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Personnel from a Grave and Registration buried him in the Betio Lone Palm battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at: Honolulu Memorial, with interment January 31, 1949 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. 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.