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Victor Harold Feldner

PFC Victor H. Feldner served with Baker Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 21 November 1943.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 313079

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

December 29, 1917
at Donnybrook, ND

Parents

Adolph Feldner
Martha (Workman) Feldner

Education

Grammar school

Occupation & Employer

Chiloquin Lumber Company

Service Life

Entered Service

June 17, 1941
at Portland, OR

Home Of Record

Chiloquin, OR

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Martha Feldner

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

B/1/8th Marines

Campaigns Served

Guadalcanal
Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details
Victor married Catherine Retallick in Wellington, New Zealand, on 5 August 1943.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Victor Feldner served with Company B, First Battalion, 8th Marines in the Guadalcanal campaign and the battle for Tarawa.

At midday on 20 November 1943, BLT 1-8 climbed over the sides of their transport ships and boarded LCVPs in Tarawa lagoon. They anticipated imminent landing orders, but due to the desperate situation on the beach were held offshore in their little boats, bobbing in the waves for the rest of the day and a very long night. Early on 21 November, they were ordered to land on Betio’s Beach Red 2.

At 0615, the first waves of 1-8 rushed down the ramps and into the breaking surf on a coral reef some 500 yards from shore. Although friendly troops held the water’s edge, they “immediately came under heavy machine gun fire from both flanks.” The battalion was decimated on the long walk to shore. An action report penned by the 8th Marines noted that “many of the casualties resulted from drowning, due to the heavy packs and equipment men attempted to take across the submerged fringing reef.”

PFC Feldner was one of those who fell in action on 21 November 1943, either during the landing itself or shortly after coming ashore. While his death was confirmed by company officers, no further details of his death were recorded.

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

“In Division Cemetery, grave unknown.” Also listed as “body not recovered.”

A memorial cross was erected at Cemetery 33, Plot 16, Row 2, Grave 11.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Martha Feldner.
Mrs. Catherine Retallick Feldner lived in Wellington, New Zealand.

Location Of Loss

PFC Feldner’s battalion landed in the vicinity of Beach Red 2, Betio.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
*Although BLT 1-8 did not land until 21 November, the official date of death for some personnel is given as 20 November 1943.
The reasons for this discrepancy are not known.
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