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James Alan Whitworth

Private James A. “Jay” Whitworth served with Able Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed 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 424348

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

December 31, 1924
at Corpus Christi, TX

Parents

James (died 1936)
Susan A. Whitworth

Education

Longview High School (ex-1943)

Occupation & Employer

Paper boy
Longview Daily News

Service Life

Entered Service

July 21, 1942
at Dallas, TX

Home Of Record

111 Northcutt Avenue
Longview, TX

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Susan A. Whitworth

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

A/1/2nd Marines

Campaigns Served

Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Private Whitworth joined A/1/2 from the 2nd Anti-Tank Battalion on 9 October 1943.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Private Whitworth served with Company A, First Battalion, 2nd Marines during the invasion of Tarawa. His battalion constituted the regimental reserve, and was ordered to land against heavy opposition at Beach Red 2 on the morning of 20 November 1943.

Whitworth was killed in action on the day of the landings; according to family lore, he was shot down by a Japanese pillbox as soon as he set foot on Betio. Officially, his cause of death is given as “gunshot wounds, right shoulder.”

Burial Information or Disposition

Primary sources differ as to Private Whitworth’s burial. His battalion’s muster roll (above) gives the location as “Beach Red 2 Cemetery, Row 2, Grave 108.” This information is repeated on his Marine Corps Casualty Card. However, this same card also gives a second location – “Row B, Grave #43” – also in Beach Red 2 Cemetery.

It is now known which, if either, of these graves contained Whitworth’s remains. The cemetery – also known as “Central Division” or “Cemetery 26” – was excavated by the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company in 1946, but Whitworth’s body could not be identified at the time.

A significant number of the Marines interred here were taken to Hawaii and buried as unknowns. It is possible that James Whitworth is among them.

A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 26, Grave 12, Row 1, Plot 3.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Susan A. Whitworth.

Location Of Loss

Private Whitworth was killed in action at an unspecified location on Betio.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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