Hero CPL John Peter “Whitey” Fardy at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip Il.

World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Corporal and squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Islands. It was on May 6, 1945 when Company C was advancing against a strongly fortified defended Japanese position that Corporal Fardy's squad was suddenly brought under heavy small-arms fire. Corporal Fardy temporarily deployed his men along a convenient drainage ditch. Shortly afterwards, an enemy hand grenade landed in the ditch, falling among the pinned-down Marines. Instantly, Corporal Fardy flung himself upon the grenade and absorbed the exploding charge with his own body. Taken to a field hospital, Corporal Fardy died the next day. The Medal of Honor was presented to Corporal Fardy's parents, at ceremonies conducted by the Marine Corps League in Chicago on September 15, 1946, his medal was accredited to the state of Illinois.