Part 1 of a 2 part mission.The family of
Sgt Millard Odom has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor this hero for his service to his country. It will be our privilege to do so.
Millard Odom, 26, was born in Batesville, Arkansas. At age 19, he was living in Washington State when he decided to enlist in the US Marine Corps. He completed boot camp training at MCRD, San Diego. In November 1943, Sgt Odom was serving with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Marine Division, that landed at Tarawa, a part of the Gilbert Islands.
The Battle of Tarawa lasted 72 hours and was a significant victory for the U.S. military as the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Sadly, Sgt Odom was killed on the first day of the battle, November 20, 1943.
As he remained unidentified, Sgt Odom was interred in 1949 with other unidentified casualties in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Sixty-nine years later, and through DNA testing, he has now been positively identified and will be permanently interred with Full Military Honors at Miramar National Cemetery on November 20, 2018, exactly 75 years to the day after he gave his life for his country.
Sgt Odom’s surviving sister was just 13 when she learned of her brother's death. She is 82 now and will be present for his service.
Part 1: We will be meeting this hero upon arrival in San Diego and accompanying him and family to the mortuary.
Part 2 can be seen
HERE.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying this hero and family from the airport to the mortuary. Please see the time table if you would like to participate.
Time Table for Part 1, Monday, November 19, 2018:
1000 - Stage at Spanish Landing Park, 3900 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
https://goo.gl/maps/9NcvdFVDqL521030 - Mission Briefing
1050 - KSU to Terminal for Hero's Arrival
1015 - (Est) Flag Line for Arriving Coach
1120 - (Est) KSU for El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121
https://goo.gl/maps/avuYfRjpyNB2 R/C Lorenzo LizarragaSoCal PGR Regional Ride Captain
619-971-2236
llizarraga@yahoo.com
Sgt Millard Odom 8/21/1917 – 11/20/1943You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
