John Bernard Jellema
Serrgeant John B. Jellema served with George Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 300390
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 7, 1917
at Hull, ND
Parents
Albert Jellema
Anna (Noomen) Jellema
Education
Fenger Academy High School (1934)
Occupation & Employer
Banking Clerk
Service Life
Entered Service
October 7, 1940
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
307 West 113th Street
Chicago, IL
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Alice Jellema
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
Sergeant John B. Jellema 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....
Sergeant Jellema was one of the G/2/2 Marines who fell on the first day of the battle. His death was attributed to gunshot wounds; no further details are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; identifiable remains were not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 16, Row 1, Plot 8.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of wife, Mrs. Alice Jellema.
Location Of Loss
Sergeant Jellema’s company fought in the vicinity of Betio’s Red Beach 2.
