The United States 5th Marine Division was activated on November 11, 1943 to the Fleet Marine Force, San Diego, California and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to be trained to join the other four Marine divisions in fighting the war in the South Pacific, specifically in the Iwo Jima operation and in the occupation of the Japanese homeland. Roy and Lawrence Yess of Waseca County were two of the enlisted men in the 28th Marines.
