John Harlan Willis returned eight live grenades toward Japanese enemy fire - all while aiding a wounded Marine lying in a shell hole during a battle for Hill 362A on Feb. 28, 1945.

One of the barracks located at the now-closed Naval Hospital, Millington, Tennessee was named Willis Hall and the building is now part of the University of Memphis Millington Center.

Columbia leaders and military members gathered Friday to commemorate the death of World War II veteran John Harlan Willis 80 years since his passing.