"Bodies of WWII US Marines recovered in Pacific"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:05:17 -0400

From: Yahoo News
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The bodies of 36 US Marines have been found on a remote Pacific island more than 70 years after they died in a bloody World War II battle, a member of the recovery team said.

The remains of the men were discovered after a four-month excavation on Betio Island in Kiribati, director of US charity History Flight Inc., Mark Noah, told Radio New Zealand.

Noah, whose organisation worked with the US Defense Department on the project, said the men were killed during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943.

"(They) had an expectation that if they were to die in the line of duty defending their country they would be brought home... that was a promise made 70 years ago that we felt should be kept," he said late Tuesday.

While the remains have not been formally identified, Noah said they almost certainly include those of Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, who posthumously received America's highest military accolade, the Medal of Honor, for conspicuous gallantry.

Bonnyman's citation says he led a series of assaults when Marines stormed the island, finally falling when he attacked a bombproof installation that was hampering the advance.

A statement on History Flight's website said Bonnyman’s daughters had decided to have his remains interred in a family plot in Knoxville, Tennessee, next to his parents, with a public funeral service planned.

Overall, more than 1,000 Americans died at Tarawa, while the entire Japanese garrison of 4,800 was wiped out.

Noah said the remains would be repatriated this month and identified using a combination of dental records and DNA comparison with surviving relatives.

He said the bodies of several hundred American soldiers still lay in makeshift, unrecorded graves where they were buried after the battle.

Noah said efforts would continue to ensure that the bodies were returned home.

"There's a lot of work to be done on the island," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/bodies-wwii-us-marines-recovered-pacific-075205962.html

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 9 at 2015 11:00 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:00:39 -0400

I agree. Keep bringing them home until all are back on American soil.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 9 at 2015 11:32 AM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:32:51 -0400

Heart breaking to hear that we are finding mass casualty remains 70 years after the War ended!
I can't imagine the pain the families have gone through.
RIP my brothers in arms.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 11:37 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:37:10 -0400

There should be no time limit on "what's right" with our servicemen and women that sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. If we have the means, no question!

Response by Capt Lance Gallardo made Jul 9 at 2015 11:41 AM

Capt Lance Gallardo — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:41:36 -0400

My mother's father John V. Gallardo is still buried in the Philippines, KIA March 14th, 1945. Earl O Brake of Alabama was killed with him repelling a Jap Dawn banzai Attack. Earl was awarded the DSC Posthumously.
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=6498 All families of the fallen should have the type of closure that our families had. The families never really get over their loss of their love one. I know that neither Earl's family in Alabama or my family has ever really stopped missing a son, a father, a grandfather, or a brother. Earl's family reached out to my family 65 years after their deaths and it was very special. Southern families don't forget their war dead, whether they are Confederate dead from the Civil War or WWI or WWII or Korea, Vietnam, and now Afghanistan and Iraq. This is something my family found out when Earl's niece presented my family a ringed binder full of first-hand accounts of the men in their platoon and company who knew Earl and my grandfather and how they met their end defending their company's strong point, armed with two BARS and grenades. The platoon commander put two of his best men in that fighting hole, because he knew if the Japs attacked, that is where the company defensive perimeter would get hit first and hardest. He needed two men who would not run, but would fight until they could not fight anymore. He was right. Both men died where they were placed and accounted for close to a hundred dead Japs. Earl's family spent 60 years trying to get Earl upgrade to the Medal of Honor. No matter. We know what my grandfather and Earl did, that day in the jungle hills outside of Manila.

Valor awards for Earl O. Brake

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Private First Class Earl O. Brake (ASN: 34807192), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 103d Infantry Regiment, 43d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 14 March 1945. Private First Class Brake's intrepid actions, personal bravery and...

Response by Capt Lance Gallardo made Jul 9 at 2015 11:56 AM

Capt Lance Gallardo — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:56:45 -0400

It is hard to believe we left so many Marines on Tarawa, including a Medal of Honor recipient, Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.. His story is pretty incredible. He enlisted as a PVT in the Marines in July 1942 despite having two years of college at Princeton University, and was field promoted to 2nd Lt, and then 1st Lt. His combat initiative on Tarawa is legendary. He was also pretty old at 33 (compared to most of the young men he fought with who were in their early twenties or late teens), years when he died on 22 November 1943, the third and last day of fighting on Tarawa, before the island was secured. He also saw some combat in Guadalcanal, near the end of the campaign.
http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/A-C/Bonnyman_A.aspx

Response by SSG John Erny made Jul 9 at 2015 11:57 AM

SSG John Erny — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:57:11 -0400

Until they come home they are still serving in spirit.

Response by SFC Joseph Bosley made Jul 9 at 2015 12:18 PM

SFC Joseph Bosley — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 12:18:01 -0400

Glad to see these men are finally returning home. Special thanks need to go out to the people that made it possible. Keep up the good work!

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 9 at 2015 12:20 PM

SSG Izzy Abbass — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 12:20:38 -0400

RIP brothers and happy to hear you have been located

Response by Cpl Wesley Nail made Jul 9 at 2015 1:21 PM

Cpl Wesley Nail — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:21:39 -0400

This is amazing. Bring our fallen brothers and our hero's home. My grandfather fought on Iwo Jima and if he would been lost there, I would thank God for his return. Now finally, maybe the families can have some closure. God Bless and Semper Fi

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 8:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 20:53:17 -0400

That finding goes with what I've already said. They're still out there, somewhere, just waiting to be found. I really believe that. Now, their war is officially over and their relatives can rest in peace.

Response by Sgt Billy Alt made Jul 10 at 2015 12:37 AM

Sgt Billy Alt — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 00:37:04 -0400

I don't care how long it takes we never leave them behind!

Response by Cpl Perry Peterman made Jul 10 at 2015 4:38 PM

Cpl Perry Peterman — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:38:05 -0400

Welcome home Marines, Semper Fi!

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 8:13 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 20:13:52 -0400

Actually it is amazing that they have not found more graves. Take a minute to look Betio up on google maps. It looks nothing like the films or photos one sees in the history books. Island is completely built up. They have completely removed the airfield. It is now the "main drag" of the island.

Response by Sgt Tom Vaughn made Jul 16 at 2015 12:39 AM

Sgt Tom Vaughn — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:39:51 -0400

I wish I could be there for they're funerals
My uncle Marvin was wounded at Tarawa and at Iwo Jima , my dad at Okinawa and in Korea , Lost my dad in 1957 when I was almost 4 , combat in WWII and Korea , just to come home and be murdered over a bump to the back of a drunks chair ,
Who on rally point would want to be there for LT. Bobby mans funeral
SEMPER FI Marines God bless you all

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Sep 14 at 2018 1:43 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 13:43:07 -0400

They deserve to rest in America, the country they were defending when they died in battle!