WHEELING — A special dedication took place in South Wheeling on Thursday when the Military Banner Program in Wheeling honored PFC John Habak, a U.S. Marine who was killed in action on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

City officials, family members and local veterans groups gathered for the ceremony at the corner of Jacob and 44th streets in South Wheeling where Habak lived and worked at a grocery store before going off to fight overseas.

Habak, a graduate of Wheeling High School, was killed in the line of duty at the age of 22. He never got a chance to return home to start a family of his own.

While fighting on Iwo Jima, Habak served in 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division.

“When you talk about the Marine Corps, what’s always depicted is the flag

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