CRUZ, Jacob, Pvt 604 (Machinegunner) SN: 516933
Born: 30 Jun 1925 Los Angeles, California
Enlisted USMCR: 26 Feb 1943 (Home of Record: 708 Echandia Street, Los Angeles, California)
Died: 22 Nov 1943 (KIA, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, British Gilbert Islands)
Interred: His remains were initially interred in the Eastern Division Cemetery, Row D, Grave 29. During the US Army Air Corps occupation of Betio, many of these graves were built over and their exact locations have not been re-discovered. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

6th Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, MCB, San Diego, CA
Feb 1943 Pvt (Rec), 6thRecBn, RD, MCB, San Diego, CA �??26Feb43; 26, enl, WRD, DHS Los Angeles, Calif.; to RD, MCB, San Diego, Calif.�??
Apr 1943 Pvt (Rec), 6thRecBn, RD, MCB, San Diego, CA �??8, qual SS; 21, tr fr USMCR Cl III(c) to Cl III(b); tr to Training Center, Camp Elliott, San Diego, Calif.�??

Company D, Infantry Battalion, Training Center, Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA
Apr 1943 Pvt, Co D, InfBn, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA �??26Feb43; 21, jdfr RDep, MCB, San Diego, Calif.�??

22nd Replacement Battalion, FMF, In the Field
Jul 1943 Pvt, 22ndReplBn, FMF, In the Field �?? 1, embarked and sailed fr San Diego, Calif. aboard SS BLOEMFONTEIN�??

Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, FMF, In the Field
Oct 1943 Pvt, Co D, 1stBn, 6thMarines, 2ndMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Wellington, New Zealand) �??5-10, on board USS ORMSBY for amphibious training; 23, emb on board USS FELAND; 22-31, on board USS FELAND at Wellington, N.Z.�??
Nov 1943 Pvt, Co D, 1stBn, 6thMarines, 2ndMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Tarawa Atoll, British Gilbert Islands) �??22, KIA�??

Based on this service record, I believe that we can confidently state that he rates the following awards for WWII:
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal-1 star
World War II Victory Medal

Cruz, Jacob, Pvt