Gentlemen, I am trying to determine where my father's cousin, Pvt Walton C Taylor Jr might be buried. He was killed in action on June 8, 1945 on Okinawa and received a Purple Heart. The little info that I have doesnt state where he was buried---I thot perhaps there is a cemetery on the island. Any help will be appreciated! Thanks! Valerie Bennett Jacksonville FL

Valerie,
In going through my father's pictures, there is a photo of a cemetary for the Sixth Marine Division, in Okinawa Shima, there also seems to be one for the First Marine Division there as well. These pictures are from the war, so I don't know what has become of them since then. Judging by the cemetaries that still remain in France, I would bet they are still there.

Jeannine Nash
Daughter of a Sixth Div. Marine

THIS QUESTION SEEMS TO COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME. THE 1ST USMC DIV AND 6TH DIV. CEMETERIES (AS WELL AS THE US ARMY) WERE ALL REMOVED. THERE ARE NO USA CEMETERIES ON OKINAWA FROM WWII. THE REMAINS OF ALL THE HEROES INTERRED ON OKINAWA WERE EITHER BROUGHT HOME FOR BURIAL BY FAMILIES, OR THE FAMILIES WERE GIVEN THE CHOICE OF INTERNMENT AT THE PUNCHBOWL MEMORIAL CEMETERY ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII. THERE ARE MANY 6TH USMC DIV. MARINES BURIED THERE, AND A MEMORIAL WALL THERE LISTS ALL THOSE MIA DURING THE PACIFIC WAR.

There was a cemetery originally on Okinawa. It was move to Hawaii at the Punch Bowl. The Sixth has a memorial there. There is an international cemetery on Okinawa that has Americans buried in it but from earlier time, including two of Commendor Perry's crew.