BATTLE OF OKINAWA Local veterans

About 12,000 Americans were killed or declared missing in action in the battle of Okinawa during World War II. An additional 38,000 were wounded in the invasion, which began April 1, 1945, the last major campaign of the Pacific War. Here are profiles of three Warren men, two of whom were wounded, who fought in what is considered the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War:
NAME: SAMUEL E. LANZA
Age: 77.
Occupation: Retired after 37 years in government jobs.
Education: Did not finish high school, but received his diploma from Warren G. Harding High School in June 2001.
Family: Wife, Shirley, deceased. Seven children: Margaret Eaton of Fairborn, Ohio; Linda Allen, Elaine Taylor, Marilyn Porec and David Lanza, all of Warren; Sam Jr. of White Oak, Pa.; and Edward Lanza of Cortland.
Military service: Marine Corps, March 10, 1944, to Aug. 12, 1946.
Okinawa: Rifleman with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Division. He was part of the third assault wave on the China Sea side. After 22 days, he took the brunt of a satchel charge, which blew off parts of his right arm, hand, leg and buttocks. Was promoted to corporal the day he was discharged after spending 16 months in military hospitals. He is 100 percent disabled.
Decorations: Purple Heart, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal.
Veterans organizations: Adjutant 51 years for Trumbull County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11 in Warren; commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 606; junior vice commandant of Trumbull County Marine Corps League, Detachment 958; and a member of American Legion Post 540, Cortland, and VFW Post 1090 in Warren. Lanza has been a strong advocate for veterans rights for 56 years.
Organizations: National Association of Retired Federal Employees; Bazetta Christian Church.
Quote: "I left half of my a-- out there."
NAME: VERNE E. HOEHN
Age: 84.
Occupation: Retired from Republic Steel Corp. as foreman in the 56-inch hot strip department.
Education: Warren G. Harding High School, 1937; attended Youngstown State University part-time for two years.
Family: Wife, Terry; son, Ralph of Salem; daughter, Valerie Taylor of Avon Lake.
Military service: Marine Corps, January 1942 to February 1946.
Okinawa: Rifleman with the 1st Division, landed around April 20, 1945. Spent time hauling ammunition and water to the front lines, clearing Japanese out of caves. Went to the front to relieve another outfit. The next day while advancing on a machine-gun emplacement, he was shot in the upper right leg.
Decorations: Purple Heart, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, China Medal, Bronze Star.
Veterans organizations: American Legion Post 540, Cortland.
Organizations: Tod Avenue United Methodist Church, Warren; Republic Steel Retirees Club.
Quote: On getting wounded: "I never was bitter. I just figured it was my duty, whatever happened."
NAME: WALTER D. OGREAN
Age: 81.
Occupation: Retired from the Warren Fire Department (1947-1981) as a captain.
Education: Did not finish high school.
Family: Wife, Helen, deceased. A son, Theodore, and a daughter, Deborah Nichlous, both of Warren.
Military service: Marine Corps, Jan. 19, 1942, to March 1, 1946.
Okinawa: Got his first taste of combat on Guadalcanal. Landed on Okinawa on April 5 as part of Headquarters and Service, 6th Tank Battalion, 6th Division. He participated in the surrender ceremonies of the Japanese occupation army of China at Tientsin (now Tianjin).
Decorations: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars.
Veterans organizations: Chaplain of the Trumbull County Marine Corps League, Detachment 958.
Quote: "When Pearl Harbor was hit, I told my girl, I bet we go to war. I said to my buddy, 'Let's go enlist.' He said, 'Let's wait until after Christmas.'"
Source: GlobalSecurity.org, interviews