Joseph William Ozbourn
| Joseph William Ozbourn | |
|---|---|
 
Joseph W. Ozbourn, Medal of Honor recipient
|
|
| Born |
October 24, 1919 Herrin, Illinois |
| Died | July 30, 1944 (aged 24) KIA on Tinian |
| Place of burial | National Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1943-1944 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 1st Battalion 23rd Marines |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Tinian |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Private Joseph William Ozbourn (October 24, 1919 – July 30, 1944) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save his comrades on Tinian in the Marianas on July 30, 1944.
Joseph Ozbourn was born in Herrin, Illinois on October 24, 1919. He attended grammar school in Buckner, Illinois, and subsequently became a trip rider in the mines for the Old Ben Coal Corporation in West Frankfort, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on October 30, 1943.
On July 30, 1944, while serving as a Browning Automatic Rifleman serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, Fourth Marine Division, during the Battle of Tinian, Private Ozbourn died after hurling himself on a live hand grenade thus saving the lives of four fellow Marines. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Private Ozbourn was initially buried in Tinian, Mariana Islands, but later his remains were reinterred in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE JOSEPH W. OZBOURN
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
...
Wikipedia