KIA Makin Atoll-2dRaiderBn 1942!
GunnyG
Corps,Veterans,Military,History,WWII,Social,
MARINE FORCES PACIFIC
Force Public Affairs Office
Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii 96861
Comm: (808) 477-8314/8310
DSN: 477-8310
FAX: (808) 477-8715 FAX DSN : 477-8715
http://www.mfp.usmc.mil
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
For more information, call: Capt. Chris Hughes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MISSING WWII MARINE REMAINS TO BE REPATRIATED
CAMP H. M. SMITH, Hawaii (Dec. 16, 1999) -- Remains believed to be those
of U.S. Marines killed in action on Butaritari Island during World War
II's Makin Atoll Raid in August, 1942, will be repatriated at a ceremony
on Hickam Air Force Base, Friday at 3 p.m.
The Marines were from the famous 2nd Raider Battalion, a commando
organization specializing in amphibious landings. One of the Marine
Raiders killed in action during the Makin Atoll raid was Sgt. Clyde
Thomason, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor during World War
II. The medal was presented posthumously for his actions on Butaritari.
The U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii (CILHI) conducted
a series of three search and recovery efforts, which began in August,
1998. According to CILHI officials, the recovery of remains on
Butaritari represents the largest and potentially most significant
recovery to date.
Eighteen Marines were killed and 12 declared missing following the
historic 1942 landing -- the first such use of the newly formed Marine
Raiders. Personally led by one of the founders of the Raiders,
then-Maj. Evans Carlson, two companies of Marine Raiders battled the
Japanese force holding Butaritari, leaving at least 83 enemy dead and
destroying two seaplanes. The son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Maj. James Roosevelt, also participated in the raid, and, along with the
other surviving Marine Raiders, successfully withdrew by rubber boats to
awaiting U.S. Navy submarines. Nine of the missing 12 Raiders were
later captured and executed by Japanese soldiers on Kwajalein.
Although the remains are believed to be those of the Marines killed in
action on Butaritari, CILHI officials will conduct examinations to
positively identify them. According to officials at CILHI, positive
identification can take more than a year to complete.
Media and interested parties are invited to attend the repatriation
ceremony. For more information on the ceremony, please contact Capt.
Chris Hughes of the Marine Forces Pacific Public Affairs Office at (808)
477-8314.
For information about the recovery efforts or the identification
process, please contact Maj. Mike Cowan or Staff Sgt. Earl Bushong of
the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, at (808)
448-0583.
-30-
Further Info on Carlson, Raiders, etc. at
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/dickg/carlson.html
--
Dick Gaines<Gun...@HotMail.Com>
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