John Francis Betancourt Jr.

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
USMC Good Conduct Medal For first award only, the MCGCM may be awarded, provided conduct requirements are met, to the next of kin in those cases where service member is killed in combat action against an opposing armed force, or dies as a direct result of wounds received in combat action against an opposing armed force, or dies in the line of duty where such death was directly related to actions against the enemy.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
**It is likely that PVT John F. Betancourt Jr. was posthumously awarded the USMC Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
No  Grave Marker Photo(s),
No  Official Navy After Action Report
Yes Photo of veteran, Find A Grave
Yes  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes  WWII Draft Card Data

WWII Draft Card Data
John Francis Betancourt Jr.
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 18  -  Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: April 26, 1924  -  Birth Place: Tacoma, Washington
Residence Place: Seattle, King County, Washington
Registration Date: June 30, 1942  -  Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Utility Trailer Sales Co
Weight: 185, Height: 6' 2"
Complexion: Dark
Eye Color: Brown   -  Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Charles Zeyan
Members of Household: John Francis Betancourt Jr., Self

Obituary Notice, The Tacoma News Tribune,
Wednesday, May 9, 1945, Page 12.
J. Betancourt Meets Death In Olinawa Fight
Pvt. John Francis Betancourt Jr., USMC, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kronmiller, 1417 South 45th street, was killed in action on Okinawa, April 4, according to word received from the navy department. He would have been 21 years old April 26.
Pvt. Betancourt entered the military service June 15, 1944, and went overseas in December. He trained for a time in the Solomon islands before engaging in the Okinawa invasion.
Bob Baubnash, Betancourt's buddy, wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Kronmiller that their son was killed when a party of marines was surprised in ambush by Jap soldiers. This occurred on the fourth day after landing.
Pvt. Betancourt was born in Tacoma and attended public schools and Bellarmine high school, where he was a corporal in the ROTC.
Besides his parents he is survived by a stepbrother, Rodney Kronmiller: grandmother Mrs. Caroline Zeyen, and aunt Mrs. Joseph Hazuka, all of Tacoma He was a former carrier of The News Tribune.

Note 1: The death location, "On Okinawa" is based on the following data found on Naval-History.net:

A. The US Naval Memorial Records: "BETANCOURT, John Francis, Jr, 978884, HqCo, 3rdBn, 7thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, April 4, 1945, killed in action"

B. The States Lists from National Archives: "BETANCOURT, John F., Jr., Pvt., USMCR. Mother, Mrs. Eileen M. Kronmiller, 1417 S. 45th St., Tacoma, Wash".

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