Nearly 987,000 men and women from Illinois served in World War II. It was not entirely uncommon for multiple members of the same family to be serving our country at the same time. The following story about a family from a small community in southeastern Illinois is an incredible example of going “All Out for Victory”.
Hometown: Norwood Park Township, IL
Robert began service April 12, 1944 after graduating from high school. After Boot training, he received nine weeks of special schooling and was stationed at San Diego, California. He was among the few men selected to be a member of Mrs. Roosevelt’s Guard of Honor. In November, […]
Maurice A. Charles joined the U.S. Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Captain. He served during WW II, Korean and Vietnam Wars.
James N. Clark joined the U.S. Marine Corps in June of 1942 and was sent to boot camp at San Diego, California. He finished parachute school in 1943 and was shipped overseas on April 1, 1943.
I was drafted September 8, 1943 and chose the Marine Corps. After boot camp at Parris Island, S. C., I was transferred to Camp Lejune for training for field telephone school and then to Camp Pendleton, CA.
Les Gadbury enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1942 at the U.S. Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego. He was trained at Camp Elliott and Camp Pendelton. Les traveled to New Zealand in January of 1943 and ultimately landed in Guadalcanal in June of 1943. The “Striking Ninth” landed on […]
George J. Green joined the U.S. Marine Corps from his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, 1st Marine Brigade in Inceland. He was assigned to Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 12 Marines in the Third Marine Division. George was with the Fleet Marine Force int he Pacifc.
He saw active duty […]
C. Rex Ketchum joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940 at Springfield, IL. and served seven years during the WW!! years. He was born 30 June, 1917 in Taylorville, IL to Charles Roy and Malinda Durbin Ketchum. Rex attended St. Joseph School and Cathedral Boys High School in Springfield, IL before entering service.
Rex […]
After basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina, his 22nd Marine Brigade, 6th Marine Corps Regiment was assigned to Iceland with the task of protecting the North Atlantic coast. The polar bear on his left sleeve indicates that he served with the 6th USMC Regiment before the start of WW II.
Michael Lazaro was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was drafted in January 1943 and joined the Marine Corps. Making the long train trip to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, he joined platoon 135.