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Abraham Simmons Braddock

PFC Abraham S. Braddock served with King Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 311772

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

February 18, 1923
at Grape Creek, TX

Parents

Stephen Marvin Braddock
Edna (Sellers) Braddock

Education

Lake View High School

Occupation & Employer

Ranch hand

Service Life

Entered Service

July 17, 1941
at Dallas, TX

Home Of Record

223 North Pope Street
San Angelo, TX

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Edna Braddock

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

K/3/2nd Marines

Campaigns Served

Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Abraham “Simmons” Braddock served with Company K, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign.

On 20 November 1943, Braddock’s battalion was assigned the task of spearheading the assault on Betio’s Beach Red One – a curved stretch of sand running several hundred yards from the “bird’s beak” in the west to Red Two in the east. The natural shape of the beach created a crossfire for the defenders, and the area became known as “the Pocket.” Slow-moving landing craft were quickly targeted from multiple angles, and many were knocked out as they approached the shore. Hundreds of men were killed or wounded before stepping foot on dry land. Those who survived faced a network of obstacles manned by determined Japanese defenders, and the fighting was close-in and savage.

“On approaching the beach, the first two waves of LVTs were hit by machine gun and anti-boat gun fire from beaches Red 1 and 2 and Beach Green firing over the point,” reads an official report. “This fire damaged several  LVTs and caused severe casualties. The assault waves landed generally at about 0910. The left half of Company K was partially stopped about 150 yards from the beach by anti-boat fire and suffered very heavy casualties. The remainder of Company K and Company I were also heavily hit by machine guns both in LVTs and while disembarking. The log barricade in front of Company I offered some cover and an opportunity to organize, but Company K had no cover and many of those who made the beach were hit on the flat terrain.”

PFC Braddock was killed in action during the day’s operations. No specifics of his death or burial are currently known.

Burial Information or Disposition

None recorded; identifiable remains not recovered.

A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 11, Grave 4, Row 2, Plot 1.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Edna Braddock

Location Of Loss

Braddock’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Beach Red One.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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