Donate for Major White's Celebration of Life

Contribute to helping the Stockton Marine Corps Club cover some of the expenses for World War II and Battle of Iwo Jima Veteran Major Bill White's Celebration of Life. Major White was the third oldest Marine when he passed away on March 4th, 2022, at 106. His family has approved this GoFundMe to help out with the costs, and the money will go to the family first.

The Stockton Marine Corps Club is a 501 (c) (4) non-profit Veterans organization. Any donation for this event will be sent a letter for tax purposes if requested.

The Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, May 28th, 2022, 3pm-5pm at the University of the Pacific Alex G. Spanos Center at 1178 Larry Heller Drive, Stockton, CA 95211

Major White's Biography is as follows:

Maj White was born at 6:23 AM on July 31, 1915, in Long Beach, California. He went to Boot Camp in San Diego in 1934 following Sea School in 1935. He crossed the Equator on board the USS Colorado in 1936, becoming a Shellback. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor in 1936 to 1937. He then Transferred to China with the 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai in 1937. That followed Recruiting Duty in Los Angeles. When WWII started in 1942, he was assigned to Parachute School and transferred to 4th Parachute Battalion, then Bougainville, 4th Battalion. Paratroopers were then recalled from the Pacific in 1943 and formed the basis of the 28th Marine Regiment, part of the 5th Marine Division. He went to Parker Ranch in Hawaii for training, prepping for the invasion of Iwo Jima. After days at sea, he arrived at Iwo Jima on 19 Feb 1945 but did not go with the initial assault. Instead, he went ashore after the first Flag was raised, landing on the beach directly under Mt. Suribachi. As they were crossing to join the rest of the Battalion, the 2nd flag was raised (the one in the famous photo). He was with the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines at that time, and then he was wounded and sent back to the US. After recovery assigned to Camp Pendleton, where he assisted with the discharge of 400,000 Marines after the war. Then transferred to Pearl Harbor in 1947 for three years. After he transferred to Marine Headquarters in Washington DC in 1950, he got commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1952. He then transferred to Korea, where he served a year with headquarters 11th Marines Artillery but no combat action. After, he was transferred back to the US in San Francisco in 1953 for four years and promoted to Captain. In 1957 he transferred to El Toro Marine Air Station, 1st Marine Air Wing, 33rd Aircraft Group. He was then sent to Okinawa in 1960, but only for six months as his wife Myra was dying, and eventually, she did pass. He was promoted to Major in 1963 and retired from the Marine Corps in June 1964.

He was a member of the Huntington Beach, California Police Department, starting in the mid-1960s and for 17 years volunteered as a leader in the Boy Scouts of American Explorer Post, which the police department sponsored. He outlived three wives, the last two dying of cancer. Major White’s children are Mary, now Mary Schroeder Huston of Stockton and Alice White, who now lives in Sacramento. Maj White lived his last days at The Oaks Assisted Living Facility in Stockton, California. However, he continued to be active, as you would find him either competing with other residents at bingo and table games or joining in sing-a-longs. He was also an active member of the Stockton Marine Corps Club and with any veteran-related activity.

Major White’s personal awards include Purple Heart, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, China Service Medal, Armed Forces Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Combat Service Medal, Victory Over Japan Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Korean Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Medal, Sea Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, United Nations Medal, USMC Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Medal.