World War II Honoree

Joseph William Ozbourn

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Herrin, Illinois

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE, U.S. MARINE CORPS. ACCREDITED TO ILLINOIS. CITATION FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS A BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN SERVING WITH THE 1ST BATTALION, 23RD MARINES, 4TH MARINE DIVISION DURING THE BATTLE FOR ENEMY JAPANESE HELD TINIAN ISLAND, MARIANA ISLANDS, JULY 30, 1944. AS A MEMBER OF A PLATOON ASSIGNED THE MISSION OF CLEARING THE REMAINING JAPANESE TROOPS FROM DUGOUTS AND PILLBOXES ALONG A TREE LINE, HE, FLANKED BY 2 MEN ON EITHER SIDE, WAS MOVING FORWARD TO THROW AN ARMED HAND GRENADE INTO A DUGOUT WHEN A TERRIFIC BLAST FROM THE ENTRANCE SEVERELY WOUNDED THE 4 MEN AND HIMSELF. UNABLE TO THROW THE GRENADE INTO THE DUGOUT AND WITH NO PLACE TO HURL IT WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE OTHER MEN, HE UNHESITATINGLY GRASPED IT CLOSE TO HIS BODY AND FELL UPON IT, SACRIFICING HIS OWN LIFE TO ABSORB THE FULL IMPACT OF THE EXPLOSION, BUT SAVING HIS COMRADES. HIS GREAT PERSONAL VALOR AND UNWAVERING LOYALTY REFLECT THE HIGHEST CREDIT UPON HIM AND THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.