Howard Lee Bryant
Corporal Howard L. Bryant served with Baker Company, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 349207
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 22, 1922
at Pendleton, IN
Parents
Lawrence & Hester Bryant
Education
Pendleton High School
Occupation & Employer
Headlight Manufacturer
Guide Lamp Company
Other
Twin sibling of Elizabeth Bryant
Service Life
Entered Service
January 4, 1942
at Indianapolis, IN
Home Of Record
300 East Water Street
Pendleton, IN
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Hester M. Bryant
Military Specialty
Driver
Amphibian Tractors
Primary Unit
B/2nd Amphtrac Bn.
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Corporal Howard L. Bryant was the driver of an LVT-1 “Alligator” amphibian tractor during landing operations at Betio, Tarawa atoll, in November 1943. He was reported as missing in action on 20 November 1943, and later declared dead as of that date.
Reseach by Jim Hildebrand of Tarawa1943 indicates that Corporal Bryant’s vehicle was brought to Betio aboard the USS Feland and used to support the landing of First Battalion, 6th Marines on the evening of 21 November. Corporal Lambert Lane and Captain Thomas B. Royster of Company B, Second Amphtracs, may also have been aboard. The Alligator was hauling ammunition and supplies instead of passengers; 1/6 proceeded to shore by paddling rubber boats.
Bryant’s LVT noticed one of the boats in distress, and stopped to take on seven men:
2Lt. Marius W. Christenson
Supply Sgt. Page Warren
PhM1c Henry C. Coburn
PhM1c Fred E. Kathan
PhM2c John K. Hildebrand
PhM2c William W. McGuffin
PhM3c Clinton L. Hoatson, Jr.
Bryant then continued towards Green Beach, but after traveling another 200 yards, struck a massive anti-boat mine. The explosion flipped the tractor over and killed everyone on board except for Hoatson.
The bodies of Lt. Christenson and Sgt. Warren were later recovered and buried in Cemetery 13. Bryant and the four corpsmen were either not recovered, or buried as unknowns in an unspecified location.
For more information on this event, read Hildebrand’s essay “The Green Beach LVT Mystery.”
Christenson, Warren, Coburn, Kathan, Hildebrand, McGuffin
Burial Information or Disposition
No burial information recorded; remains not recovered.
A memorial grave was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 1, Row 1, Plot 7.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Hester Bryant.
Location Of Loss
Corporal Bryant’s LVT-1 was destroyed by a mine off Betio’s Green Beach.
