World War II Honoree

Jack Helm

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Monmouth, Illinois

Honored By

Doreen

Relationship

Wife

PRIVATE 1ST CLASS, INFANTRYMAN, MOTOR POOL SPECIALIST, 22ND MARINE REGIMENT, 1ST PROVISIONAL BRIGADE. ENLISTED IN APRIL 1942 AND JOINED THE 22ND AFTER BASIC AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA. SHIPPED OUT IN JUNE TO SAMOA FOR 16 MONTHS OF ISLAND DEFENSE AND COMBAT TRAINING. HIS REGIMENT LIBERATED ENIWETOK IN FEBRUARY 1944. AS PART OF THE 1ST BRIGADE THE 22ND MARINES ASSAULTED GUAM, JULY 21, 1944. JACK DESCRIBED THE MARINE COMBAT ON GUAM AS '31 DAYS OF HELL', WHILE ELIMINATING THE ISLAND'S 19,000 DEFENDERS. OCTOBER 1944, JACK WAS ROTATED ON POINTS TO PENDLETON TO COMPLETE HIS MILITARY SERVICE.