Joseph William Ozbourn-Honolulu, HI
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 21° 18.690 W 157° 50.826
4Q E 619575 N 2357060
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient for action at Tinian Island, Marianas Islands on July 30, 1944. He was killed in action. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI in Section F, Site 77.
Waymark Code: WMX6E6
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 12/03/2017
Views: 0
He was born on October 24, 1919 in Herrin, IL and died on July 28, 1944 in Tinian Marianas Islands. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *OZBOURN, JOSEPH WILLIAM
• Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps
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, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division, during the battle for enemy Japanese-held Tinian Island, Marianas Islands, 30 July 1944. As a member of a platoon assigned the mission of clearing the remaining Japanese troops from dugouts and pillboxes along a tree line, Pvt. Ozbourn, flanked by 2 men on either side, was moving forward to throw an armed handgrenade 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, Pvt. Ozbourn 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 Pvt. Ozbourn and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Armed Service: Marines
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