Sorenson, Richard K.
First Lieutenant Richard K. Sorenson, USMC, (1924-2004)
Richard Keith Sorenson was born on 28 August 1924 in Anoka, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from that state in December 1942. Completing recruit training at Marine Corps Depot at San Diego, California, he was ordered to Company M, Third Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, at Camp Pendleton in April 1943. Early in 1944, he departed for combat duty in the Pacific war zone. On 1-2 February, he served with an assault battalion attached to the Fourth Marine Division in action against the Japanese during the battle of Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Bravely defending his position with five other Marines, he immediately hurled himself upon an enemy grenade when it landed in their vicinity, seriously wounding himself but saving the lives of his comrades. He was then evacuated and transported to Hawaii. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
In August 1944, upon recuperating from his injuries, Sorenson was assigned to the Marine Air Detachment at Naval Air Station at Minneapolis, Minnesota and promoted to Corporal. The following month, he was ordered to the Headquarters of the Central Recruiting Division in Chicago, Illinois and was promoted to Sergeant. Remaining on recruiting duty, he was ordered to the Midwestern Recruiting Division in St. Louis, Missouri, with additional duty at Fargo, North Dakota. Receiving orders to Great Lakes, Illinois, he remained there until honorably discharged in February 1946. For his civilian career, he worked for the Veteran's Administration and studied at St. John's University at Collegeville, Minnesota. In July 1947, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and received orders to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Minneapolis. While at the station, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant in May 1951 and to Master Sergeant in June 1953.
In October 1953, Sorenson was appointed a Second Lieutenant and reported for training at the Basic School at Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia. In April 1954, he was assigned as the Assistant Supply Officer of the Seventh Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton and was promoted to First Lieutenant in the fall. Early the next year, he joined the Second Replacement Battalion and was ordered overseas to Okinawa, Japan with the Third Engineer Battalion, Third Marine Division. In November 1955, he returned to the United States and was discharged after voluntarily reverting back to Master Sergeant. Following his military service, he returned to work for the Veteran's Administration. Richard K. Sorenson died on 9 October 2004 and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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