Born: October 14, 1924
Died: February 22, 2004
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan, Tinian (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
With Dog Company:
William Pettyjohn served as an ammunition carrier for a heavy machine gun in Dog Company, 24th Marines. He fought in the battle of Namur with the First Machine Gun Platoon, and was reassigned to Able Company when Dog disbanded in the spring of 1944.
With Able Company:
PFC Pendleton joined Able Company's machine gun platoon, and carried ammunition through the battle of Saipan. He made the landing on Tinian, but was badly wounded on July 25, 1944, as he fought to stave off a Japanese banzai attack. He was evacuated and hospitalized until his eventual discharge on July 2, 1945.
After the war, Pettyjohn returned to Marietta, Georgia, where he died in 2004. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Marietta.
Pettyjohn in dress uniform. Photo from the WWII Memorial Registry
Photo by "Traveler", FindAGrave.com volunteer.