Bodies of WWII US Marines recovered in Pacific

AFP via Yahoo News ^ | 7/8/15

[Kartographer]

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.

[Kartographer]

Welcome home Marines and thank you for your service.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Indeed. Just read about the Battle of Tarawa last evening.

Heroism beyond description.

Welcome home.

[Gay State Conservative]

THE GREATEST GENERATION

[BigCinBigD]

“In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.”

[commish]

Lord bless these great Heroes, and may the families of these brave men finally have the peace of being able to properly lay their loved ones to rest.

Semper Fi!!!!

[Gay State Conservative]

Heroism beyond description.

After one of the battles of the Pacific (can't recall which one) a Marine general,or Navy admiral (can't recall who),summed up the performance of the Marines involved by saying that during the battle "uncommon courage was a common commodity".

That sums it up pretty well,IMO.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

My Uncle was in the “island hopping”war. He won’t really talk about it.

[Kartographer]

From the article:

"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, ALEXANDER, JR.
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
Company:
Division:
Born: 2 May 1910, Atlanta, Ga.
Departed: Yes
Entered Service At:
G.O. Number:
Date of Issue:
Accredited To: New Mexico
Place / Date:

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the 2d Battalion Shore Party, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, 20-22 November 1943. Acting on his own initiative when assault troops were pinned down at the far end of Betio Pier by the overwhelming fire of Japanese shore batteries, 1st Lt. Bonnyman repeatedly defied the blasting fury of the enemy bombardment to organize and lead the besieged men over the long, open pier to the beach and then, voluntarily obtaining flame throwers and demolitions, organized his pioneer shore party into assault demolitionists and directed the blowing of several hostile installations before the close of D-day. Determined to effect an opening in the enemy's strongly organized defense line the following day, he voluntarily crawled approximately 40 yards forward of our lines and placed demolitions in the entrance of a large Japanese emplacement as the initial move in his planned attack against the heavily garrisoned, bombproof installation which was stubbornly resisting despite the destruction early in the action of a large number of Japanese who had been inflicting heavy casualties on our forces and holding up our advance. Withdrawing only to replenish his ammunition, he led his men in a renewed assault, fearlessly exposing himself to the merciless slash of hostile fire as he stormed the formidable bastion, directed the placement of demolition charges in both entrances and seized the top of the bombproof position, flushing more than 100 of the enemy who were instantly cut down, and effecting the annihilation of approximately 150 troops inside the emplacement. Assailed by additional Japanese after he had gained his objective, he made a heroic stand on the edge of the structure, defending his strategic position with indomitable determination in the face of the desperate charge and killing 3 of the enemy before he fell, mortally wounded. By his dauntless fighting spirit, unrelenting aggressiveness and forceful leadership throughout 3 days of unremitting, violent battle, 1st Lt. Bonnyman had inspired his men to heroic effort, enabling them to beat off the counterattack and break the back of hostile resistance in that sector for an immediate gain of 400 yards with no further casualties to our forces in this zone. He gallantly gave his life for his country.lantry."

[Kartographer]

New Mexico Ping!

[Gay State Conservative]

They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.”

My aunt (by marriage) was a Marine during WWII.She died about 10 years ago and,at her wake,I was surprised (and impressed) to see two female Marines,seeming to be about the same age as my aunt,standing as honor guards at her casket.Of course they were in full dress uniform...not the blue uniforms,I think they were manly red.

That was my first "up close and personal" exposure to the Marines' comradeship.

[Vermont Lt]

It’s on the Marine Corps memorial. From Iwo Jima. Uncommon valor was a common virtue.

[Gay State Conservative]

My Uncle was in the “island hopping”war. He won’t really talk about it.

I've heard that many,many *many* times...including from my sister-in-law.Very few WWII vets,it seems,say much (if anything) about their combat experiences.I've seen it suggested that that's because a) they don't want to frighten or upset family members and b) because they're not too anxious to re-live it themselves...they'd rather forget as much as they can.

Both reasons seem understandable to me.

[laplata]

My Dad, who fought in the CBI Theater of War, lost his best boyhood friend on Tarawa and his body was never recovered. Perhaps he is one of those found.

[BigCinBigD]

There's no such thing as a former Marine.

[Forty-Niner]

I hope that you read Cl. J Alexander’s book “Utmost Savagery” the definitive history of the battle for Tarawa Atoll.

http://www.amazon.com/Utmost-Savagery-Three-Days-Tarawa/dp/159114003X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436465346&sr=1-1&keywords=utmost+savagery

Interesting to note is that Gen. James Jones, USMC Commandant appointed by Bush 43, first USMC NATO commander, Nat’l Security Advisor to Obama, etc., etc., is the son of the Marine Officer that lead his battalion in a rubber boat assault on Betio’s “Green Beach” on the second day of the battle that turned the tide of the battle.....

The combat footage of Tarawa was turned into a documentary that won an Academy Award, and shocked the nation in it’s depiction of Marine bodies floating in the surf on Red Beach 1....... The film was purposely approved by the Roosevelt Administration in order to prepare the nation for the battles to come.....especially the looming landings on Europe’s Normandy beaches......n needless to say it provoked a huge uproar in the US.....

Note that Roosevelt’s son James served as a WWII Marine Raider officer...........

[Kickass Conservative]

God Bless those Brave Men.

[Forty-Niner]

That was Iwo Jima....it’s inscribed on the Iwo Jima flag raising Memorial in Washington DC....

[paterfamilias]

Adm. Chester Nimitz: “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

[Forty-Niner]

Bonnyman was buried in Hawaii during WWII......as were all the MOF winners that died at Tarawa......

[Kartographer]

Long Lost, Medal of Honor Recipient’s Remains to Be Returned to Family

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/07/01/long-lost-medal-of-honor-recipients-remains-be-returned-family.html

Bonnyman’s skeletal remains were unearthed on the island of Betio, in the central Pacific southeast of the Marshall Islands, last month.