World War II Honoree

Serge R. Ballif

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Frances Lary

Relationship

Friend

Commanded the Marine detachment aboard the USS Hancock CV-19 during five major engagements in the Pacific during WWII. After the Japanese surrendered, his detachment boarded the USS Garrard APA-84, an attack troop transport in order to go to Tokyo Bay. They were in the first wave of Marines to hit the beach at Yokosuka and thus first to raise the U.S. flag on Japanese soil.