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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.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 510156

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

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.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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