William John Rainalter

Korean War
Service #020896
Unit312 MAR ATK SQ 12 MAR AIR GP
RankCaptain U.S. Marine Corps
Date of DeathApril 22 1951
StatusMissing In Action
Memorialized
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Air Medal
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Distinguished Service Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Silver Star
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Captain Rainalter was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Medal with 5 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Captain Rainalter was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with the Marine Fighter Squadron 312, Marine Air Group 12 aboard the USS BATAAN (CVL-29). On April 22, 1951, during a strike on Sariwon air strip, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and exploded. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.