Hamilton Earl Barnhouse, Jr.
Private Hamilton E. Barnhouse, Jr. served with George 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 510156
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
May 24, 1922
at Bridgeport, OH
Parents
Hamilton E. Barnhouse, Sr.
Stella May (Hill) Barnhouse
Education
Bridgeport High School (1941)
Occupation & Employer
White Castle Systems Company
Service Life
Entered Service
December 2, 1942
at Detroit, MI
Home Of Record
899 National Road
Bridgeport, OH
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Hamilton Barnhouse Sr.
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
G/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Hamilton “Earl” Barnhouse, Jr. served with George Company, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign.
On 20 November 1943, G/2/2 was designated to land as a support wave on Betio’s Beach Red 2, following Easy and Fox Companies of their battalion. Their LVTs began taking fire as they approached the beach – an experience described by George Company veteran Robert Twitchell:
Coming in along the pier we could hear the THUMPA-THUMPA-THUMPA of machine gun slugs hitting the armor plate, and every few seconds the KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA of a mortar shell exploding alongside. "My God, my God," I repeated over and over, "what the hell am I doing here?"
No one hesitated jumping or leaping over the side of the amtrac – it was the only way to exit as there were no doors. For a few long seconds you are a very visible target..... Lying on the already stained white coral sands and half floating in the lagoon were four of the men who I had just rode in with, slept with, prayed with and hoped with.... The horrible realization of what had happened struck me; the other five men in that amtrac must have been killed or wounded as they tried to climb up and over the side....
Exactly what fate befell Private Barnhouse is not known. He was reported as missing in action following the battle, and ultimately declared dead as of 20 November 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; identifiable remains were not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 1, Row 1, Plot 11.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Hamilton Barnhouse Sr.
Location Of Loss
Private Barnhouse was last seen in the vicinity of Betio’s Red Beach 2.
