Frank Carl Andruseasy
Private Frank C. Andruseasky served with How Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 487080
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
July 5, 1922
at Wilkes-Barre, PA
Parents
Father’s Name Unknown (d. 1923)
Stella (Kucinski) Bladosz
Education
Coughlin High School
Occupation & Employer
Lever Brothers
Service Life
Entered Service
December 14, 1942
at Baltimore, MD
Home Of Record
22 Sidney Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Next Of Kin
Boot Camp
Officer School
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
H/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Frank Andruseasky served with Company H, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign. His company was armed primarily with water-cooled machine guns and 81mm mortars.
As the heavy weapons outfit of their battalion, How Company’s Marines were attached to different assault units for the 20 November 1943 landings on Betio. Their primary objective was to cross Beach Red 2 and support the advance of rifle platoons advancing towards the airfield. However, furious Japanese opposition destroyed unit cohesion and the gunners wound up fighting where they could, with what weapons they managed to bring ashore.
Private Andruseasky was last seen alive on the day of the landings. He was reported missing in action after the battle; in January 1944, his status was updated to “killed in action.”
Burial Information or Disposition
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Stella Bladosz.
Location Of Loss
Private Andruseasky’s company landed on Betio’s Beach Red 2.
