James Bryant Yarbrough
Private James B. Yarbrough served with King Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 831548
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
May 27, 1924
at Noxapater, MS
Parents
Bryant William Yarbrough
Maudie B. Yarbrough (d. 1934)
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
February 27, 1943
at Jackson, MS
Home Of Record
Route 2
Noxapater, MS
Next Of Kin
Stepmother, Mrs. Edna Yarbrough
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
K/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private James Yarbrough served with King Company, 2nd Marines during the invasion of Tarawa.
On 20 November 1943, Yarbrough’s battalion was assigned the task of spearheading the assault on Betio’s Beach Red One – a curved stretch of sand running several hundred yards from the “bird’s beak” in the west to Red Two in the east. The natural shape of the beach created a crossfire for the defenders, and the area became known as “the Pocket.” Slow-moving landing craft were quickly targeted from multiple angles, and many were knocked out as they approached the shore. Hundreds of men were killed or wounded before stepping foot on dry land. Those who survived faced a network of obstacles manned by determined Japanese defenders, and the fighting was close-in and savage.
“On approaching the beach, the first two waves of LVTs were hit by machine gun and anti-boat gun fire from beaches Red 1 and 2 and Beach Green firing over the point,” reads an official report. “This fire damaged several LVTs and caused severe casualties. The assault waves landed generally at about 0910. The left half of Company K was partially stopped about 150 yards from the beach by anti-boat fire and suffered very heavy casualties. The remainder of Company K and Company I were also heavily hit by machine guns both in LVTs and while disembarking. The log barricade in front of Company I offered some cover and an opportunity to organize, but Company K had no cover and many of those who made the beach were hit on the flat terrain.”
Private Yarbrough was killed in action during the day’s operations. No specifics of his death or burial are currently known.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; identifiable remains not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 1, Row 2, Plot 7.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of stepmother, Mrs. Edna Yarbrough.
Location Of Loss
Private Yarbrough’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Beach Red One.