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Elzieathin Anthony Pegg

PFC Elzieathin A. “Anthony” Pegg served with Able 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 810843

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

August 9, 1924
at St. Louis, MO

Parents

Elzieathin Pegg
Catherine Hortense (Watson) Pegg

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Newsroom Clerk
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Service Life

Entered Service

January 23, 1943
at St. Louis, MO

Home Of Record

3614 North 22nd Street
St. Louis, MO

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Hortense Pegg

Military Specialty

Rifleman

Primary Unit

A/1/8th Marines

Campaigns Served

Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

PFC Pegg joined A/1/8th Marines as a replacement in October, 1943.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Elzieathin “Anthony” Pegg served with Company A, First Battalion, 8th Marines in 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 Pegg was one of those who fell in action on 21 November 1943, either during the landing itself or shortly after coming ashore. His death was confirmed by company officers, but no specifics were recorded.

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

“At Tarawa, Gilbert Islands.” Specifics not known; also listed as “body not recovered.”

A memorial cross was erected at Cemetery 11, Plot 2, Row 2, Grave 5.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Hortense Pegg.

Location Of Loss

PFC Pegg’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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