Print This Page

Gunnery Sergeant Warren C. Armstrong

A black and white headshot photo of a young White man in uniform.
  • Unit: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Aircraft Group 31, Marine Attack Squadron 332
  • Date of Birth: October 29, 1925
  • Entered the Military: November 26, 1942
  • Date of Death: November 30, 1991
  • Hometown: Miami Springs, Florida
  • Place of Death: Roswell, Georgia
  • Award(s): Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation
  • Cemetery: Section Q, Site 78-C-1. Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, Georgia
Contributed by Sadie Ganz, Eliza Fogarty, Grace Richardson, and Olivia Siskin
Pace Academy, Atlanta, Georgia
2025/2026

Early Life

Warren C. Armstrong was born on October 29, 1925, in Miami Springs, one of the first planned communities in Florida. His parents were Roy Armstrong and Clara Lillian Armstrong, and he had two siblings: Allan Leroy Armstrong and John Alexander Armstrong. Around 1930, Armstrong’s parents separated, and his father moved to California. Lillian became the head of the household, supporting the family by working in an awning factory.

As a teenager, Armstrong and his brother Allan worked as newsboys. 

A snippet of the 1940 Census.
The 1940 Census shows the Armstrong family living in Miami, Florida. Mom, Lillian, is working as a machine operator at an awning factory. Both Allan and Warran have paper routes. National Archives and Records Administration.
A sepia headshot of an older White man.
Roy Armstrong, Warren C Armstrong’s father. Ancestry.
A black and white headshot of a young White man in a suit and tie.
Allan Armstrong, Warren C. Armstrong’s brother. Ancestry.

Homefront

In the 1940s, Miami Springs, Florida, was still full of livestock and gardens, a remnant of its rural character from before the Florida land boom — a massive period of real estate expansion in the 1920s fueled by population growth. 

During World War II, the Air Transport Command rented the Miami-Battle Creek Sanitarium, later known as Fairhavens, as an important recovery facility for military personnel. The sanitarium’s warm climate and existing medical infrastructure made it a natural choice for recuperating servicemen. 

Across town, the Miami Springs Elementary School became a hub for the American Red Cross. Students, teachers, and PTA volunteers assembled surgical dressings for the military, collected salvage, earned war stamps to purchase war bonds, and maintained a Victory Garden on school grounds. The school also served as a meeting and training site for air raid wardens and was designated Casualty Station 9, Division 5, placing it in the center of Miami Springs’ civil defense network. 

The military used Miami Beach as a training ground. For instance, future mess hall cooks learned the trade in resort kitchens. Recruits drilled on beaches and golf courses for training exercises, and soldiers took swimming lessons in pools at resort hotels. 

A black and white photo of a giant open room filled with soldiers eating.
A local Miami restaurant was converted into a mess hall, Miami, 1942. Life.
A black and white photo of hundreds of recruits doing jumping jacks on an open field.
Recruits exercised on a Miami Beach golf course in 1942. The buildings in the background were used as classrooms, Life.

Military Experience

At age 17, Armstrong decided to bypass college for a career in the military, enlisting on November 26, 1942. He began his Marine Corps training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion, he joined the 3rd Marines as a rifleman-guard.

The Solomon Islands

Private Armstrong was first deployed to the Solomon Islands to take part in the Bougainville Campaign, which began on November 1, 1943. 

The Bougainville Campaign, part of Operation Cartwheel, established a critical beachhead at Cape Torokina and secured airfields that helped neutralize the major Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. 

After his time serving in the Solomon Islands, Private Armstrong was relocated to Marine Barracks, Trinidad, in the British West Indies from June 25, 1944, to November 17, 1945. During WWII, Trinidad served as a major Allied base for Atlantic operations. Private Armstrong’s first period of active duty ended on December 10, 1945.

Re-enlistment

Armstrong then returned to civilian life for seventeen months before re-enlisting on May 8, 1947. He was assigned to the Marine Air Detachment of the Marine Air Reserve Training Command in Miami, Florida. Here, Armstrong spent several years developing his expertise in aviation maintenance. By 1952, he had reached the rank of technical sergeant. 

The Korean War

In September 1952, Armstrong was transferred to the Fleet Marine Force Pacific in California. By December, he was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 212, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force out of Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Technical Sergeant Armstrong’s role was as the non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the hydraulic shop. He was responsible for inspecting, repairing, and certifying the hydraulic systems on all squadron aircraft.

In December 1953, Technical Sergeant Armstrong transitioned to the Marine Attack Squadron 332, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, in Miami, Florida, where he served in a series of progressively senior maintenance roles, including power plant maintenance chief, check crew leader, and eventually assistant line chief. 

Japan

In April 1957, Technical Sergeant Armstrong was assigned overseas again, this time to Japan. Here, he served as an assistant line chief. In this role, he was responsible for managing aircraft turnover, ensuring planes were properly serviced, inspected, and ready for flight operations. Essentially, he was the senior maintenance non-commissioned officer (NCO) overseeing everything that happened between an aircraft landing and its takeoff again. 

End of Service

By July 1958, Armstrong was back at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. Here, he served in many roles, including aircraft jet-engine mechanic, check-crew leader, and helicopter mechanic. By May 1962, he was the NCOIC of the engine shop. Armstrong left active duty for the second time on October 31, 1963, and retired from service completely on May 1, 1974. 

Through decades of service, Armstrong achieved the rank of gunnery sergeant. Armstrong received many awards for his dedication and meritorious service. His honors include: the Navy Unit Commendation, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. 

A black and white image of several troops disembarking off of landing craft onto a beach.
British soldiers exit the landing craft and head into the thicket on a mission to relieve their American allies on the Solomon Islands. Warfare History Network.
A black and white photograph of several Marines sitting around in outside.
U.S. Marines taking a short rest on the front lines in Bougainville. U.S. Navy.
A typewritten accounting of stations.
Armstrong’s first record of service, 1945. National Archives and Records Administration.

Veteran Experience

After serving in the Marine Corps, Armstrong returned to the Miami area and settled in Golden Glades with his wife, Eleanor Munson, and their two daughters. Eventually, their family would grow to include five daughters: Marilyn, Pamela, Barbara, Elizabeth, and Cynthia.

After retiring from service, Mr. Armstrong worked as a mechanic at Eastern Airlines for twenty-one years, demonstrating his consistent commitment to serving his community. 

Around 1987, Armstrong and Eleanor moved to Marietta, Georgia.

A snippet of the 1950 Census.
The 1950 Census shows the Armstrong family living in Dade County, Florida. National Archives and Records Administration.
An aerial black and white image of an aircraft hangar.
Eastern Air Lines airplane hangar, where Armstrong worked for twenty-one years as a mechanic. State Archives of Florida.

Commemoration

Gunnery Sergeant Armstrong died in Roswell, Georgia, on November 30, 1991. He is buried in the Marietta National Cemetery. He left behind his wife of 47 years, five daughters, six grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A color photograph of a headstone engraved with a cross and the words “Warren Armstrong GYSGT US Marine Corps World War II Korea Vietnam Oct 29 1925 Nov 30 1991.”
Warren Armstrong’s grave at Marietta National Cemetery, April 14, 2026. Courtesy of Mindy Lawrence.
A color photograph of four teenage girls standing next to a headstone in a cemetery.
Students from Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, honor Armstrong, April 14, 2026. Courtesy of Mindy Lawrence.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Aerial View of Eastern Air Lines’ Airplane Hangar. Photograph. Reference Collection, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/36824. 

Allan Leyor (Dr.) Armstrong. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Bougainville Campaign. Photograph. c. 1943-1945. Bougainville Campaign Collection, U.S. Navy. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/south-southwestern-pacific/bougainville-campaign.html. 

Dade County Defense Council. Blackout and Air Raid Precautions, ca. 1943. Pamphlet.  Florida Memory Collection, State Archives of Florida. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/339333.

Flier Promoting Women Volunteering for Civil Defense in Duval County During World War II, ca. 1941. Pamphlet. Florida Memory Collection, State Archives of Florida. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/343126.

Florida. Dade County. 1930 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Florida. Dade County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Florida. Dade County. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Governor Spessard Howard. Blackout Order Issued by Governor Spessard Holland During World War II. Key West, Florida, c.1941. Florida Memory Collection, State Archives of Florida. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/333853.

Ida Muir. Ontario, Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826–1942. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

“Pamela Armstrong Poe.” Voter Records. Accessed December 12, 2025. https://voterrecords.com/voter/16062754/pamela-poe.

Roy T. Armstrong. Family Tree. Digital Image. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Warren C Armstrong. Florida, U.S., Declaration of Intent, 1847–1995. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Warren C. Armstrong, Freedom of Information Act Record, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Warren C. Armstrong. Military Photograph. Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Warren C. Armstrong. Pay Service Record, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Warren C Armstrong. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2020. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Warren C Armstrong. U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s–1999. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Warren C Armstrong. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–Current. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Warren C Armstrong. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947. Digital Images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/. 

Secondary Sources

“1930.” 100 Miami Springs. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.100miamisprings.com/1930. 

Bernstein, Marc D. “Close Air Over Korea.” Naval History Magazine. Volume 14, Issue 4, (August 2000).  https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2000/august/close-air-over-korea.

Hinnershitz, Stephanie. “Victory Gardens: Food for the Fight.” The National WWII Museum. Published November 26, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/victory-gardens-world-war-ii.

“Marine Corps Memorial.” City of Miami Springs. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.miamisprings-fl.gov/community/page/marine-corps-memorial

“Medal of Honor Day 2026.” National Medal of Honor Museum. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://mohmuseum.org/medalofhonorday2026.

“Military Service Records and Unit Histories.” Naval History and Heritage Command. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/m/military-service-records-unit-histories.html.

“Montford Point Marines.” Weston D. Eastman. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://wdeastman.com/montford-point-marines/.

“Operation Cartwheel.” Warfare History Network. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/operation-cartwheel-seizing-the-solomons-and-beyond/. 

“Our History.” 100 Miami Springs. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.100miamisprings.com/our-history.

Shulimson, Jack, and Charles M. Johnson. U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Landing and the Buildup, 1965. History and Museums Division, U.S. Marine Corps, 1978. https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/U.S.%20Marines%20in%20Vietnam_The%20Landing%20and%20the%20Buildup%201965%20%20PCN%2019000307600_1.pdf. 

Syken, Bill. “When Miami Beach Went to War.” Life. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.life.com/history/when-miami-beach-went-to-war/. 

“USS Bougainville (LHA-8) – Namesake.” U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Surface Force Atlantic. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Operational-Forces/Amphibious-Ships/USS-BOUGAINVILLE-LHA-8/About-Us/Namesake/. 

“USS Fuller (APA-7).” NavSource Online.  Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.navsource.net/archives/10/03/03007.htm. 

“USS Heywood (APA-6).” NavSource Online. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.navsource.net/archives/10/03/03006.htm.

“Warren Armstrong.” Find a Grave. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110116650/warren-armstrong.

“Warren Armstrong.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, National Cemetery Administration. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/WARRENARMSTRONG/2971C00.

Wilde, Ken. “WWII German POWs in Miami Springs.” Published December 15, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://new.miamisprings.com/wwii-german-pows-in-miami-springs-by-ken-wilde-historian-miami-springs-historical-society/. 

“World War II: 1939–1945.” National Museum of the Marine Corps. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.usmcmuseum.com/wwii.html.


This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.