Joe Wittenbarger, Jr.

	NAME Joe Wittenbarger, Jr.				NICKNAME —				MCSN 374764
	HOME OF RECORD Cumberland, KY				NEXT OF KIN Mother, Mrs. Hattie Wittenbarger
	DATE OF BIRTH February 3, 1920		ENTERED SERVICE April 28, 1942					DATE OF LOSS November 22, 1942
	REGION Solomons	CAMPAIGN / AREA Guadalcanal		CASUALTY TYPE Killed In Action			UNIT H/2/8th Marines			DUTY —
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS On 22 November 1942, units of the Army’s Americal Division and the 8th Marine Regiment began a series of frontal attacks on a string of hills along the north coast of Guadalcanal. Steep ravines, bare ridges, and tenacious Japanese resistance thwarted the Americans, and after 48 hours the operation was called off. Nearly 40 members of the 8th Marines lost their lives in the futile assault.* One of their number was Private Joe Wittenbarger, killed in action on 22 November 1942. After five days, his remains were located and buried in the field, but the site could not be found by later search parties.
INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Purple Heart					LAST KNOWN RANK Private
STATUS OF REMAINS Not recovered					MEMORIALS Manila American Cemetery

* Note: Official sources and several histories report that the 8th Marines suffered nine fatal casualties. However, this number only accounts for those Marines who were buried in the island cemetery. It excludes fully 29 men who were reported missing in action or buried in the field.

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