The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Veterans > Veterans Memorials

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-18-2019, 06:14 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
Arrow Remains of Marine killed in World War II buried in Kentucky

Remains of Marine killed in World War II buried in Kentucky
By: The Associated Press - 12-18-19
Re: https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/new...d-in-kentucky/

Photo link: https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/tM...V4AFRQH77I.jpg
Pfc. John Richard Bayens (DPAA)

A U.S. Marine who died in the battle for the Pacific Ocean island of Tarawa during World War II was scheduled to be buried Monday in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said the remains of Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. John R. Bayens were officially accounted for in September though analysis of dental evidence and other methods.

Bayens’ remains arrived Friday in Louisville. The burial was scheduled for Monday at Evergreen Cemetery.

In honor of Bayens, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear directed flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff.

The 20-year old Bayens was part of a battalion attached to the 6th Marine Regiment that landed in an amphibious assault on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943, officials said.

More than 990 U.S. Marines and 30 U.S. sailors were killed in the battle for Tarawa, located island about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu. Marines and sailors quickly encountered Japanese machine gunfire when their boats got stuck on the reef at low tide. Americans who made it to the beach faced brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Bayens was killed on the third day of battle, and his remains were reportedly buried in Cemetery 33 on Betio Island, officials said.

American remains found on Tarawa were centralized at Lone Palm Cemetery in 1946 for later repatriation, but almost half of the known casualties were never found, officials said.

Bayens' remains were declared nonrecoverable in 1949.

About 65 years later, the nonprofit History Flight identified Cemetery 33, and excavations of the site revealed multiple sets of remains. Remains were given to the POW/MIA agency, and Bayens was identified.

History Flight has recovered the remains of 68 individuals and more than 200 sets of partial remains from Tarawa since 2015, when it began excavating under a contract with the Defense Department, the agency said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal note: Our respects to the family of this Marine - may they find comfort in knowing he is once again back of US soil. His sacrifice like so many who fight these wars
(like my Father and Uncles during WWII) are all Hero's one an all who put their lives on the line every day. May he and (them) all rest in peace on American soil. God Bless all our Troops!

Boats
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:06 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.