Frederick Joseph Deauchamp
PFC Frederick J. Deauchamp served with Baker Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 335915
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 30, 1921
at Marfa, TX
Parents
Mother, Mrs. Mary Rogers
Father unknown
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
December 17, 1941
at Los Angeles, CA
Home Of Record
628 North Garden Street
Visalia, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Mary Rogers
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
B/1/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Deauchamp married while in New Zealand; his wife, Mavis D. Deauchamp, lived in Lyttelton.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Deauchamp served with Company B, First Battalion, 2nd Marines during the invasion of Tarawa. His battalion constituted the regimental reserve, and was ordered to land against heavy opposition at Beach Red 2 on the morning of 20 November 1943.
Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Herbert Carter, a corpsman attached to Baker Company, had to abandon his landing craft some distance from shore and attempt to swim to the beach. He noticed PFC Deauchamp in the water nearby; the two men started to head for the cover of a nearby pier, taking cover behind a series of concrete boat traps.
Deauchamp chose the wrong moment to move. Carter saw the Marine topple over in the water, bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound in his forehead. The bullet struck Deauchamp squarely between the eyes and angled downward, severing the jugular vein. Either wound was enough to kill him, but Carter splashed over to help anyway. Finding Deauchamp dead, Carter made his own way in to the beach.
Burial Information or Disposition
Pharmacist’s Mate Carter was unable to secure Deauchamp’s body in his struggle to reach Betio; the dead Marine was left where he fell to “float ashore.” Whether he washed up on the beach is unknown; if so, his remains were not identifiable at time of burial, and the location of any grave is not known.
A memorial marker was erected at Cemetery 33, Grave 6, Row 1, Plot 12.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Mary Rogers.
Frederick’s wife, Mrs. Mavis D. Deauchamp, resided in New Zealand.
Location Of Loss
PFC Deauchamp was killed in action while wading ashore on Red Beach 2.
