Alvin Chip Bryson
Private Alvin C. Bryson served with Item Company, Third Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 21 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 382097
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 5, 1925
at Hendersonville, NC
Parents
Lawrence Thomas Bryson
Daisy “Dessie” Bryson (d. 1926)
Education
David Millard junior high
Occupation & Employer
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
April 14, 1942
at Raleigh, NC
Home Of Record
124 Biltmore Avenue
Asheville, NC
Next Of Kin
Grandmother, Mrs. Mary E. Bryson
Military Specialty
Automatic Rifleman
Primary Unit
I/3/8th Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Silver Star
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Alvin C. Bryson served with Item Company, 8th Marines during the Guadalcanal campaign and in the battle of Tarawa.
The amphibious assault on Betio, Tarawa atoll – Operation GALVANIC – commenced on 20 November 1943. The Third Battalion, 8th Marines were in reserve for the landing operation, but were ordered to stand by in their LCVPs and were afloat by 1015. At 1200, the battalion’s first wave began heading towards Beach Red 3 to support the heavily-engaged BLT 2-8.
Nothing went as planned. Item Company approached in the fourth wave; one boat was hit causing “considerable casualties,” and the rest pulled back and attempted to land on Beach Red 2. They intermingled with the fifth wave, grounded on the coral reef, and once again took casualties. The surviving boats waited in the water outside of small-arms range, and finally managed to disembark the rest of Item Company between 1630 and 1800 hours. Those who reached shore were attached to battered Love Company and participated in an attack south towards the main airfield.
Private Bryson managed to get to shore with his Browning Automatic Rifle, and joined the battalion advance. His last moments were relayed in a letter by First Sergeant Harry D. Varlie:
Alvin's death was the result of an act of utter courage and determination, an act that without doubt prevented many of his friends from becoming casualties.
He was killed during the afternoon of November 20th, the day of our landing. The platoon to which he was attached as an automatic rifleman was pinned to the ground by Japanese machine gun fire, and Alvin volunteered to knock out the gun position. Disregarding his own safety, he moved on the emplacement, registering on it and bringing return fire on himself. In his advance he was mortally wounded, but he succeeded in silencing the enemy gun.
I knew Alvin probably better than I knew any of the young men in the company. He impressed me and the company officers as having almost every soldierly quality to a degree beyond the average. We older Marines are proud to have such boys as he wear our uniform, and we take immense pride in the heroism in which he met his death. He would have asked for himself no better way.
Varlie’s letter also noted that Bryson had been recommended for the Silver Star Medal, and “this recognition will almost surely be given.” The Top was right: a posthumous medal and citation were presented to Bryson’s family the following year.
Officially, Private Bryson died on 21 November 1943; the action which caused his death took place on 20 November. It is possible that his wounds were not immediately fatal, and he later died at a field hospital.
Burial Information or Disposition
“2nd Marine Division Cemetery, row and grave number unknown.” No further specifics recorded.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 8, Row 2, Grave 13.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of grandmother, Mrs. Mary Bryson.
Location Of Loss
Bryson’s battalion landed at various locations between Beach Red 2 and Red 3.
