Arthur Bonar Waldenville

PFC Arthur B. Waldenville served with Mike Company, the heavy weapons unit of the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines. His outfit was armed with 81mm mortars and water-cooled .30-caliber machine guns.

On 20 November 1943, Waldenville’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 Waldenville made it ashore unhurt. Looking along the beach, he saw wounded Marines lying so thick on the sand that tanks couldn’t advance without running over helpless men. He began dragging the wounded to safety, simultaneously saving their lives and creating a path for the armor. This gallantry would earn Waldenville a Silver Star Medal.

Unfortunately, Waldenville never returned from one of his attempts. He was reported as missing in action on 20 November 1943. No further reports of his disposition ever arrived, and in January 1944 his status was changed to killed in action.