William George Turner |
Ewa Marine Corps Air Station |
William George Turner was born at Algona, Iowa, on February 2, 1919. He enlisted in the Marines at Des Moines on January 9, 1941. He was a Private in Scout-Bombing Squadron 231. On the day of the attack, while under fire, he supplied belted ammunition to a gun set up by another Marine in the rear of a SBD Dauntless dive bomber. The fire from this gun was effective enough to discourage strafing by Japanese planes in this area of the base and may have shot down at least one and possibly two Japanese planes. Turner and the other Marine remained at their exposed position even though their plane was riddled with bullets. Turner was mortally wounded with gunshot rounds to his abdomen. He was taken to Ewa Plantation Hospital where he died on December 12. He was first buried at Nuuanu Cemetery and after the war his body was removed to Punchbowl. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Jesse B. Turner, Algona, Iowa. He posthumously received a Letter of Commendation from Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. This was upgraded to a Bronze Star and presented to his family in May, 1947. |
Information provided by Jack G. Henkels |
