US Marine Corps
WWII Veteran
He was one of nine Marines marooned on Makin Island, 18 Aug 1942, and later executed by the Japanese on Kwajalein on 16 Oct 1942.
The other eight were:
John Kerns
====================================
Tribute by Arlington National Cemetery
The US Marine Raider Association will consider the 17 August 2001 Arlington Ceremony a tribute to all 30 Marine Raiders who gave their lives for their country 59 years ago on that remote Pacific island.
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Below courtesy of BarryC 47806468
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Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private John I. Kerns (MCSN: 348233), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a member of a volunteer boat crew in Company B, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion, during the Marine Raider Expedition against the Japanese-held island of Makin in the Gilbert Islands on 17 and 18 August 1942. Fully aware of the hazards of an imminent enemy air attack, and with complete disregard for his own life, Private Kerns, with four others, volunteered to take a boat to a point just outside a reef and shoot a line ashore to assist in evacuating those men remaining on the beach. Caught on the sea, he was defeated in his valiant efforts by the violent strafing of his boat by withering enemy machine-gun fire. His great personal valor and loyal spirit of self-sacrifice were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country.
***** STILL UNRECOVERED AS OF 16 OCT 2024, BASED UPON ALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE, THE DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY (DPAA) CONTINUES TO ASSESS THIS INDIVIDUAL'S CASE TO BE IN THE ANALYTICAL CATEGORY OF 'ACTIVE PURSUIT' *****
US Marine Corps
WWII Veteran
He was one of nine Marines marooned on Makin Island, 18 Aug 1942, and later executed by the Japanese on Kwajalein on 16 Oct 1942.
The other eight were:
John Kerns
====================================
Tribute by Arlington National Cemetery
The US Marine Raider Association will consider the 17 August 2001 Arlington Ceremony a tribute to all 30 Marine Raiders who gave their lives for their country 59 years ago on that remote Pacific island.
======================================
Below courtesy of BarryC 47806468
======================================
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private John I. Kerns (MCSN: 348233), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a member of a volunteer boat crew in Company B, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion, during the Marine Raider Expedition against the Japanese-held island of Makin in the Gilbert Islands on 17 and 18 August 1942. Fully aware of the hazards of an imminent enemy air attack, and with complete disregard for his own life, Private Kerns, with four others, volunteered to take a boat to a point just outside a reef and shoot a line ashore to assist in evacuating those men remaining on the beach. Caught on the sea, he was defeated in his valiant efforts by the violent strafing of his boat by withering enemy machine-gun fire. His great personal valor and loyal spirit of self-sacrifice were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country.
***** STILL UNRECOVERED AS OF 16 OCT 2024, BASED UPON ALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE, THE DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY (DPAA) CONTINUES TO ASSESS THIS INDIVIDUAL'S CASE TO BE IN THE ANALYTICAL CATEGORY OF 'ACTIVE PURSUIT' *****
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Louisiana.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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