Dornie Byrd Reynolds
Platoon Sergeant Dornie B. Reynolds served with Baker Company, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 22 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 256252
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 3, 1918
at Baltimore, MD
Parents
Unknown
Reynolds was adopted by the Machande family in his early life.
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Family Farm
Service Life
Entered Service
January 7, 1942
Home Of Record
Gambrills, MD
Next Of Kin
Guardian, Mrs. Anna Machande
Military Specialty
Section Leader
Amphibian Tractors
Primary Unit
B/2nd Amphtrac Bn.
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Reynolds served a first hitch in the Marine Corps from December 22, 1936 – December 21, 1940.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Platoon Sergeant Dornie Reynolds served as section leader with Company B, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, during the battle of Tarawa. His unit was assigned to carry troops of 3/6th Marines to shore from the USS Harris.
Reynolds was reported as missing in action on 22 November 1943, and later declared dead on that date. An unverified family account claims that Reynolds was killed when his LVT struck a mine off Green Beach, but no official accounts of his death are currently known.
Burial Information or Disposition
No information recorded; remains not recovered.
A memorial grave was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 14, Row 1, Plot 10.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of guardian, Mrs. Anna Machande.
Location Of Loss
Platoon Sergeant Reynolds was last seen during landing operations at the island of Betio.
