Hugh Plumlee
Private Hugh Plumlee served with Able Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
*This is an official date of death. Plumlee's battalion did not land until 21 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 818248
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 26, 1923
at Everton, AR
Parents
Oren Franklin Plumlee
Pearl Mae (Choate) Plumlee
Education
Burley High School (ex-1944)
Occupation & Employer
Welder
Unknown shipyard in Portland, OR
Service Life
Entered Service
January 16, 1943
at Portland, OR
Home Of Record
Burley, ID
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Oren F. Plumlee
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
A/1/8th Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Hugh Plumlee served with Company A, First Battalion, 8th Marines during the battle for Tarawa.
At midday on 20 November 1943, BLT 1-8 climbed over the sides of their transport ships and boarded LCVPs in Tarawa lagoon. They anticipated imminent landing orders, but due to the desperate situation on the beach were held offshore in their little boats, bobbing in the waves for the rest of the day and a very long night. Early on 21 November, the battalion was ordered to land on Betio’s Beach Red 2.
At 0615, the first waves of 1-8 rushed down the ramps and into the breaking surf on a coral reef some 500 yards from shore. Although friendly troops held the water’s edge, they “immediately came under heavy machine gun fire from both flanks.” The battalion was decimated on the long walk to shore. An action report penned by the 8th Marines noted that “many of the casualties resulted from drowning, due to the heavy packs and equipment men attempted to take across the submerged fringing reef.”
Private Plumlee was last seen alive during the landing operation. When the battle ended, he was officially noted as “missing in action” – a status that was soon amended to “killed in action.” Although his battalion did not land until D+1, Plumlee’s official date of death is given as 20 November 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; reported as missing in action.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 2, Row 2, Grave 7.
Next Of Kin Address
The Plumlee family lived on the Richard Rombach ranch, about six miles south of Burley.
Location Of Loss
Private Plumlee’s battalion landed in the vicinity of Beach Red 2, Betio.
