Weldon Lee Izell was born 19 Jan 1924 in Sebastian County, Ar. to Charles Thomas & Myrtle Virginia Cumbie Izell. Weldon enlisted with the Marine's to fight in the war. Cpl Weldon L. Izell is found on the muster roll Jan. 1944, Station Hq and Hq Co, Trng, Regt, Recruit Depot, Mcb, San Diego, Calif. By the time of his death he had become Sgt. Izell. Sgt. Weldon Lee Izell was killed in action on Feb. 19, 1945. He was engaged with his Unit, Co "C", 1st Bn, 25th Mar, 4th Mar Div, Fmf, Volcano Is, in battle with the enemy at Iwo Jima, Ogasawara-shichō, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. During the war the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines saw action in the following island-hopping campaigns: Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian and Iwojima. The Battalion earned special honors for its action on Iwo Jima. The Battalion played a critical role in the seizure of Hill 382 ("Turkey Knob") in an area that Marine,,, on Iwo Jima called the "Meat Grinder." For its actions, the Battalion earned a Presidential Unit Citation. The Battalion saw no further action during the war due to having to rebuild the Battalion after the heavy losses on Iwo Jima. The Battalion was deactivated on October 31, 1945. Sgt. Izell was buried Feb 9, 1949 in the National Cemetery at Fort Smith, Arkansas.