World War II Honoree

Raymond E. Weiss

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Honored By

Mary & Joseph Conger

Relationship

Daughter & Son-in-law

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS MARCH 15, 1944 AT DETROIT, MICHIGAN. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS BASE IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 20, 1944 TO JUNE 5, 1944. ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1944 HE LEFT THE U.S. FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC. JOINED THE BADLY DEPLETED 3RD MARINE DIVISION ON THE ISLAND OF GUAM OCTOBER 1944. WHEN HE ARRIVED THE MAIN BATTLE FOR THE ISLAND HAD ENDED AND HE WAS ASSIGNED TO 'MOPPING UP' OPERATIONS, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL GRAVES ERSKINE. NOW PREPARED FOR THE INVASION OF THE VOLCANO ISLANDS AND ASSAULT ON IWO JIMA. ON FEBRUARY 5, 1945 THE 3RD DIVISION SAILED FOR IWO JIMA. ACTING FIRST AS AN EXPEDITIONARY TROOPS RESERVE, THE MAJORITY OF THE DIVISION REMAINED AFLOAT OFF SHORE OF IWO JIMA FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE LANDING ON FEBRUARY 24, 1945. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE DIVISION LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE ENEMY POSITIONS CONTROLLING THE HIGH GROUND ALONG THE MOTOYAMA PLATEAU. THEY SECURED THE ISLAND MARCH 1945. THE 3RD MARINES DIVISION WAS RELIEVED BY THE U.S. ARMY UNITS AND AFTER REST AND RELAXATION (R&R) ON GUAM, THEY COMMENCED TRAINING FOR THE INVASION OF THE SOUTHERN ISLAND OF JAPAN. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO 1ST MARINE DIVISION AND PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF CHINA FROM DECEMBER 1945 TO APRIL 1946 IN BEIJING AND TIENTSIN. HE WAS DISCHARGED MAY 4, 1946 AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION AND RETURNED TO FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN.