- SURNAME
Rozga
- FORENAME
Walter Joseph
- UNIT
1st Raider Battalion (Company C)
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
297533
- DATE OF DEATH
7th August 1942
- AGE
22
- GRAVESITE
Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Eaton, Ohio, USA
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
resided Grafton, Ohio
born 27.08.1919, Ohio, USA, USA
father John Anthony Rozga (1892-1950)
mother Mary C. Rozga (1894-1976)
30.09.1940 enlisted
Next of kin - Father. Mr. John Rozga, Grafton, Ohio
KIA Tulagi, Solomon Islands
posthumous Silver Star
DATE OF DEATH:
07-Aug-1942AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/58491/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Walter J. Rozga (MCSN: 297533), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Marine Raider Battalion during the attack against enemy Japanese forces on Tulagi, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. Displaying exceptional courage and initiative, Corporal Rozga advanced under heavy hostile fire and destroyed a group of the enemy who were entrenched in a well-concealed position, enabling his platoon to move forward and complete the destruction of the Japanese at that point. His great personal valor was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/38512FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58162807/walter-j-rozgaSERVICE HISTORY:
ROZGA, Walter J., Cpl 521/745 SN: 297533
Born: 27 Aug 1919 Grafton, Ohio
Enlisted USMCR: 30 Sep 1940 (Home of Record: Grafton, Ohio)
Died: 07 Aug 1942 (KIA, Tulagi, British Solomon Islands)
Interred: St. Mary’s Cemetery, Grafton, Lorain County, Ohio (Section N, Row 0, Site 376).
Central Recruiting Division, 706 US Court House Building, Chicago, IL
Sep 1940 Pvt, CRD, Chicago, IL “30Sep40; Jdenl at DHS CRD Cleveland, Ohio; 30, to RD, MB, Parris Island, SC”
3rd Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Oct 1940 Pvt, 3rdRecBn, RD, MB, Parris Island, SC “30Sep40; 2, Jdenl fr DHS Cleveland, Ohio”
Nov 1940 Pvt, 3rdRecBn, RD, MB, Parris Island, SC “RI”
Dec 1940 Pvt, 3rdRecBn, RD, MB, Parris Island, SC “10, to Prov Co “U”, Post”
Provisional Company U, Marine Barracks, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Dec 1940 Pvt, ProvCo U, MB, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba “30Sep40; 10, jdfr 4thRBn, RD, MB, Parris Is, SC”
Jan 1941 Pvt, ProvCo U, MB, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba “1, tr to Co H, 2ndBn, 5thRegt, 1stMarBrig, FMF, NS, Gtmo Bay, Cuba.”
Company H, 2nd Battalion, 5thMarines, 1stMarine Division, FMF, In the Field
Jan 1941 Pvt, Co H, 2ndBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, On board USS HARRY LEE, Culebra, P.R. “30Sep40; 1, jdfr Prov Co U, Gtmo Bay, Cuba”
Company E, 2ndBattalion, 1stMarines, 1stMarine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Apr 1941 PFC, Co E, 2ndBn, 1stMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, Parris Island, SC “Msm.; 23, pro”
Company C, 1st Battalion, 5thMarines, 1stMarine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Jul 1941 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, Parris Island, SC “1-31, abd USS MANLEY APD Sqdn 6, for such d as the CinC, Atlantic Fleet may direct.”
Company C, 1stBattalion, 5thMarines, 1st Marine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Oct 1941 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, Quantico, VA “Msm.”
Company C, 1stSeparate Battalion, FMF, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Jan 1942 PFC, Co C, 1stSepBn, FMF, AFAF, MB, Quantico, VA
Company C, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, FMF, In the Field
Apr 1942 Cpl, Co C, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa) “1, entrained at MB, Quantico, Va.; 1-3, enroute; 4, arr & detrained at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 4-11, at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 12, emb on bd USS ZEILIN at San Diego, Calif.; 13, sailed; 14-27, passage; 28, arr at NS, Tutuila, Samoa; 29, on bd USS ZEILIN, Tutuila, Samoa; 30, disemb & encamped at Tutuila, Samoa.”
Jul 1942 Cpl, Co C, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa & Noumea, New Caledonia) “1-4, at Tutuila, Samoa; 4, emb on bd USS HEYWOOD for trans from Tutuila, Samoa to Noumea, New Caledonia; 5-9, underway; 10, arr at Noumea, New Caledonia; 23, emb on bd USS GREGORY for spl assignment and sailed same date.”
Aug 1942 Cpl, Co C, 1stMarRdrBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Tulagi, British Solomon Is) “7, Killed in Action
Born: 27 Aug 1919 Grafton, Ohio
Enlisted USMCR: 30 Sep 1940 (Home of Record: Grafton, Ohio)
Died: 07 Aug 1942 (KIA, Tulagi, British Solomon Islands)
Interred: St. Mary’s Cemetery, Grafton, Lorain County, Ohio (Section N, Row 0, Site 376).
Central Recruiting Division, 706 US Court House Building, Chicago, IL
Sep 1940 Pvt, CRD, Chicago, IL “30Sep40; Jdenl at DHS CRD Cleveland, Ohio; 30, to RD, MB, Parris Island, SC”
3rd Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Oct 1940 Pvt, 3rdRecBn, RD, MB, Parris Island, SC “30Sep40; 2, Jdenl fr DHS Cleveland, Ohio”
Nov 1940 Pvt, 3rdRecBn, RD, MB, Parris Island, SC “RI”
Dec 1940 Pvt, 3rdRecBn, RD, MB, Parris Island, SC “10, to Prov Co “U”, Post”
Provisional Company U, Marine Barracks, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Dec 1940 Pvt, ProvCo U, MB, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba “30Sep40; 10, jdfr 4thRBn, RD, MB, Parris Is, SC”
Jan 1941 Pvt, ProvCo U, MB, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba “1, tr to Co H, 2ndBn, 5thRegt, 1stMarBrig, FMF, NS, Gtmo Bay, Cuba.”
Company H, 2nd Battalion, 5thMarines, 1stMarine Division, FMF, In the Field
Jan 1941 Pvt, Co H, 2ndBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, On board USS HARRY LEE, Culebra, P.R. “30Sep40; 1, jdfr Prov Co U, Gtmo Bay, Cuba”
Company E, 2ndBattalion, 1stMarines, 1stMarine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Apr 1941 PFC, Co E, 2ndBn, 1stMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, Parris Island, SC “Msm.; 23, pro”
Company C, 1st Battalion, 5thMarines, 1stMarine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Jul 1941 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, Parris Island, SC “1-31, abd USS MANLEY APD Sqdn 6, for such d as the CinC, Atlantic Fleet may direct.”
Company C, 1stBattalion, 5thMarines, 1st Marine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Oct 1941 PFC, Co C, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, Quantico, VA “Msm.”
Company C, 1stSeparate Battalion, FMF, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Jan 1942 PFC, Co C, 1stSepBn, FMF, AFAF, MB, Quantico, VA
Company C, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, FMF, In the Field
Apr 1942 Cpl, Co C, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa) “1, entrained at MB, Quantico, Va.; 1-3, enroute; 4, arr & detrained at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 4-11, at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 12, emb on bd USS ZEILIN at San Diego, Calif.; 13, sailed; 14-27, passage; 28, arr at NS, Tutuila, Samoa; 29, on bd USS ZEILIN, Tutuila, Samoa; 30, disemb & encamped at Tutuila, Samoa.”
Jul 1942 Cpl, Co C, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa & Noumea, New Caledonia) “1-4, at Tutuila, Samoa; 4, emb on bd USS HEYWOOD for trans from Tutuila, Samoa to Noumea, New Caledonia; 5-9, underway; 10, arr at Noumea, New Caledonia; 23, emb on bd USS GREGORY for spl assignment and sailed same date.”
Aug 1942 Cpl, Co C, 1stMarRdrBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Tulagi, British Solomon Is) “7, Killed in Action
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