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Benjamin Theodore Lenord

PFC Benjamin “Teddy” Lenord served with Fox Company, Second Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 516907

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

January 22, 1926
at San Miguel, NM

Parents

William Theodore Lenord
Zemma Pearl (McDaniels) Lenord

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

February 23, 1943
at Los Angeles, CA

Home Of Record

Route 4
Bakersfield, CA

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Pearl Lenord

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

F/2/8th Marines

Campaigns Served

Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Benjamin Lenord served with Fox Company, 8th Marines in the battle for Tarawa.

The amphibious assault on Betio, Tarawa atoll – Operation GALVANIC – commenced on 20 November 1943. The Second Battalion 8th Marines was given the job of assaulting the easternmost of three landing beaches – “Red 3” – and, once ashore, moving inland to quickly secure the airfield that covered much of the tiny island’s surface. A heavy and morale-boosting naval bombardment convinced many Marines that the task would be a simple one, and spirits were high at 0900 when their amphibious tractors started paddling for the beach.

The Japanese were quick to recover. Shells began bursting over the LVTs. “As the tractors neared the shore the air filled with the smoke and fragments of shells fired from 3-inch guns,” notes A Brief History of the 8th Marines. “Fortunately, casualties had been light on the way to the beach, but once the men dismounted and struggled to get beyond the beach, battle losses increased dramatically.” Most of the beach defenses were still intact, and these were supported by row after row of pillboxes, rifle pits, and machine gun nests.

PFC Lenord failed to return to his company when the battle ended. He was entered onto muster rolls as missing in action; when nothing more was learned of his whereabouts, his status was changed to killed in action effective 20 November 1943.

Excerpt from the muster roll of Second Battalion, 8th Marines, November 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition

None; reported as missing in action, no identifiable remains recovered.

A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 14, Row 2, Grave 9.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Pearl Lenord.

Location Of Loss

Lenord’s battalion landed on and fought in the vicinity of Beach Red 3.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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