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Arthur Erwin Wende

PFC Arthur E. Wende served with Baker Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 22 November 1943.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 35658

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

October 18, 1923
at Hayward, WI

Parents

George F. J. Wende
Ella (Hoeppner) Wende (d. 1942)

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Park attendant
Wende’s Resort (family business)

Service Life

Entered Service

January 12, 1942
Milwaukee, WI

Home Of Record

Wende’s Resort
Hayward, WI

Next Of Kin

Father, Mr. George Wende

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

B/1/2nd Marines

Campaigns Served

Guadalcanal
Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Wende served with Company B, First Battalion, 2nd Marines during the invasion of Tarawa. His battalion constituted the regimental reserve, and was ordered to land against heavy opposition at Beach Red 2 on the morning of 20 November 1943.

Wende survived the initial landings, followed by two days of intense combat on the western end of Betio. On 22 November, however, he suffered a fatal gunshot wound in the forehead. No further details of his death are known.

Burial Information or Disposition
Excerpt from muster roll of First Battalion, 2nd Marines, November 1943.

PFC Wende’s body was recovered from the battlefield and buried in a trench near Green Beach. This location – known as “2nd Marines Cemetery #1” or “Cemetery C” – contains the bodies of at least thirteen individuals, and perhaps more. However, the cemetery was not found by the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company, and it is still undiscovered today.

If casualty reports are correct, when Cemetery C is found, the remains of PFC Arthur Wende should be located in Grave #1.

Next Of Kin Address

Wende’s Resort was located on the Chippewa Flowage, about twenty miles outside of Hayward, Wisconsin.

Location Of Loss

PFC Wende was killed in action and buried in the vicinity of Green Beach.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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