Alfred John Facchiano
PFC Alfred J. Facchiano served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 479459
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
June 16, 1924
at Philadelphia, PA
Parents
Vincenzo Micehele Facchiano (d. 1932)
Mary (Carrelli) Facchiano
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Horn & Hardart Automats
Service Life
Entered Service
October 7, 1942
at Philadelphia, PA
Home Of Record
945 Central Avenue
Hammonton, NJ
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Mary Urgo
Military Specialty
Machine Gunner
Primary Unit
M/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Prior to joining the 2nd Marines, PFC Facchiano served with Company A, 24th Marines.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Alfred Facchiano served with Mike Company, the heavy weapons unit of the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines. During training, he qualified with the Browning machine gun and was likely a crewman for a water-cooled .30-caliber gun while in combat.
On 20 November 1943, Facchiano’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.
PFC Facchiano was reported missing on 20 November, either during the landing or shortly after coming ashore. No further reports of his disposition ever arrived, and in January 1944 his status was changed to killed in action.
Burial Information or Disposition
None reported; identifiable remains not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 10, Row 2, Grave 13.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Mary Urgo.
Location Of Loss
PFC Facchiano’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Beach Red One.
