Finally, the young man threatened to “just run away and join,” said Rowe’s niece, Mary Cravey. Against his father’s wishes, Rowe enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1942.

A native of Orlovista, Florida, Rowe enlisted in the Marine Corps on Jan. 20, 1942, just six weeks after the United States’ entry into World War II.

A native of Orlovista, Florida, Rowe enlisted in the Marine Corps on Jan. 20, 1942, just six weeks after the United States' entry into World War II. Following recruit training at Parris Island ...

He would be killed only six days later. Marine Corps Pvt. Charmning Willie Rowe of Orlovista, Florida, was killed on Guadalcanal on Sept. 24, 1942. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) ...