James L . Day Major General James Lewis Day ( October 5 , 1925 - October 28 , 1998 ) was a United States Marine Corps major general who served in World War II , in the Korean War , and in the Vietnam War . He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions as a corporal on March 14 to 17 during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II . Biography . James Day was born October 5 , 1925 , in East St . Louis , Illinois . Day holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Masters of Business Administration degree . He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943 . Day participated in combat action during World War II in the Marshall Islands , on Guam and on Okinawa , where for his heroic actions during the fight for Sugar Loaf Hill he was later awarded the Medal of Honor . In September 1952 , he completed The Basic School at Quantico , Virginia , and was transferred to Korea where he served with Company C , 1st Battalion , 7th Marines and the 1st Reconnaissance Company . First Lieutenant Day served as the S - 3 officer , Marine Corps Supply Center , Barstow , California , until July 1954 , when he was transferred to Camp Pendleton , California , for duty as Commanding Officer , Company C , Marine Corps Test Unit One . He was promoted to captain in December 1954 . Capt Day remained at Camp Pendleton until May 1956 , and was then assigned as Operations Officer of the Recruit Training Command , Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego . In September 1957 , he was transferred to Okinawa and served as Commanding Officer , 4 . 2 Mortar Company , and later served as a battalion operations officer with the 9th Marines , 3rd Marine Division . Returning stateside in December 1958 , he was assigned as Instructor , Tactics Group , The Basic School , Quantico . He was promoted to major in August 1962 and attended the Amphibious Warfare School , also at Quantico . Major Day was transferred to the 4th Marine Corps District in July 1963 and served as Inspector - Instructor , 43rd Rifle Company , Cumberland , Maryland . In April 1966 , Maj Day served his first tour in Vietnam as Commanding Officer , 1st Battalion , 9th Marines , 3rd Marine Division . Returning to Camp Pendleton in June 1967 , he was assigned as the Commanding Officer , 1st Battalion 28th Marines , 5th Marine Division . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1967 and in January 1968 , he was reassigned as Battalion Commander , 2nd Infantry Training Regiment , Camp Pendleton . Lieutenant Colonel Day served at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , from July 1969 to June 1971 and attended the Army War College , Carlisle Barracks , Pennsylvania , from July 1971 to June 1972 . After graduation , he served his second tour in Vietnam as Operations Officer , 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade , III Marine Amphibious Force . He was reassigned as Commanding Officer , Camp Fuji , Japan , in March 1973 . He was promoted to Colonel in November 1973 and was transferred to Philadelphia for duty as Deputy Director , and later , Director , 4th Marine Corps District . He remained in that billet until April 1 , 1976 , when he was advanced to Brigadier General . He assumed duties as Assistant Depot Commander , Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego , in May 1976 , and on November 1 , 1977 , he became Commanding General of the Depot , serving in that capacity until March 11 , 1978 . On April 29 , 1978 , he was assigned duty as Deputy Director for Operations , J - 3 , NMCC , Joint Chiefs of Staff , Washington , D . C . During July 1979 , BGen Day was assigned duty as the Assistant Division Commander , 1st Marine Division / Commanding General , 7th Marine Amphibious Brigade , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , Camp Pendleton . He was promoted to major general on August 1 , 1980 , and assumed duty as the Commanding General , 1st Marine Division , and was ultimately assigned the additional duty as Commanding General , I Marine Amphibious Force , on July 1 , 1981 . He served in that capacity until August 1982 when he was assigned duty as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Training , Headquarters , U . S . Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . In July 1984 , he was assigned duty as the Commanding General , Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D . Butler / Deputy Commander , Marine Corps Bases , Pacific ( Forward ) / Okinawa Area Coordinator , Okinawa , Japan . He served in this capacity until his retirement on December 1 , 1986 . Upon his retirement , he was presented the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States for duties while serving in his final duty station . Major General Day was presented the Medal of Honor on January 20 , 1998 , over a half a century after the World War II battle on Okinawa in which he distinguished himself . He died of a heart attack later that year on October 28 , 1998 in Cathedral City , California . He was laid to rest in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery , San Diego , California . Military decorations & awards . Major General Day ' s service ribbon s include : Medal of Honor citation . Major General James L . Day was awarded the Medal of Honor , the nation ' s highest military award for valor , for heroism on Okinawa as a corporal while serving as a squad leader of Weapons Company , 2nd Battalion , 22nd Marines , 6th Marine Division . Other honors . A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Day for Veterans Day in 1999 , recognizing him as one of five Medal of Honor recipients from the Southern California desert area .