James Richard Dyson
Private James R. Dyson served with George Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 367867
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 30, 1923
at Astoria, OR
Parents
Charles A. B. Dyson
Bessie (Barnes) Dyson
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
February 16, 1942
at San Francisco, CA
Home Of Record
834 Coolidge Road
Sunnyvale, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Bessie B. Dyson
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
G/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private James “Richard” Dyson served with George Company, 2nd Marines during the Guadalcanal and Tarawa campaigns.
On 20 November 1943, G/2/2 was designated to land as a support wave on Betio’s Beach Red 2, following Easy and Fox Companies of their battalion. Their LVTs began taking fire as they approached the beach – an experience described by George Company veteran Robert Twitchell:
Coming in along the pier we could hear the THUMPA-THUMPA-THUMPA of machine gun slugs hitting the armor plate, and every few seconds the KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA of a mortar shell exploding alongside. "My God, my God," I repeated over and over, "what the hell am I doing here?"
No one hesitated jumping or leaping over the side of the amtrac – it was the only way to exit as there were no doors. For a few long seconds you are a very visible target..... Lying on the already stained white coral sands and half floating in the lagoon were four of the men who I had just rode in with, slept with, prayed with and hoped with.... The horrible realization of what had happened struck me; the other five men in that amtrac must have been killed or wounded as they tried to climb up and over the side....
Exactly what fate befell Private Dyson is not known. He was reported as missing in action following the battle, and ultimately declared dead as of 20 November 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; identifiable remains were not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 7, Row 1, Plot 10.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Bessie B. Dyson.
Location Of Loss
Private Dyson was last seen in the vicinity of Betio’s Red Beach 2.
My Uncle James Richard Dyson has one sibling left, his sister Betty Rhea age 95 who is in a nursing home. I am now 84 – where can we leave an address as next of kin to be sure there is a notification to his family if remains are found?
Hi Arlene – I will send you an email with some information. Have either you or Betty been in touch with a Marine Corps Casualty official?