Hylbert Leffell
Corporal Hylbert Leffell served with Able Company, First Battalion, 18th Marines.
He was reported killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 25 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 292865
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
5 December 1921
at Garten, WV
Parents
Robert & Cora Lavinder Leffell
Education
Two years high school
Occupation & Employer
(details unknown)
Service Life
Entered Service
26 August 1940
at Charleston, WV
Home Of Record
Oak Hill, WV
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Cora L. Leffell
Military Specialty
Engineer / Demolitions
Primary Unit
18th Marines (A/1)
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Corporal Hylbert Leffell landed on Betio, Tarawa atoll, with his company on 20 November 1943. When the engineers took stock of their casualties five days later, Leffell was not present. He was initially reported as missing in action; when all hope for his survival vanished, the Marine Corps fixed his date of death as 25 November 1943.
No further details surrounding Corporal Leffel’s death are currently known.
Burial Information or Disposition
No known grave location; “remains not recovered.”
A memorial marker was placed at Betio Cemetery 33, Grave #11 Row #2 Plot #7.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Cora Leffell
Location Of Loss
Corporal Leffell was last seen at an unspecified location on Betio Island.
