John Cecil DeLellis
PFC John C. “Jack” DeLellis served with Charlie Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 22 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 474834
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 1, 1921
at Waukesha, WI
Parents
Vergenio “Victor” DeLellis
Grace (Jones) DeLellis
Education
Waukesha High School (1939)
Occupation & Employer
Gisholt Machine Company
Service Life
Entered Service
October 13, 1942
at Milwaukee, WI
Home Of Record
1117 North Avenue
Waukesha, WI
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Grace R. DeLellis
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
C/1/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC DeLellis served with the First Battalion, 2nd Marines during the assault landings on Betio, Tarawa atoll. On 20 November 1943, his unit was assigned as the regimental reserve for units landing on Beaches Red One and Red Two. The assault waves were subjected to devastating fire from the moment they crossed the island’s coral reef, and suffered heavy casualties while coming ashore and on the beach itself. By 1030, the reserve units were struggling towards the beach themselves and making a tough landing under fire.
Jack DeLellis survived the devastating landings, and endured terrible combat over the next two days as the survivors of his company advanced across the tiny island. On 22 November 1943, however, he fell with a bullet in his abdomen and died of his wounds shortly thereafter. He was just twenty-two years old.
Burial Information or Disposition
Jack DeLellis’ burial place was not known immediately after the battle; his service records, and muster rolls for his battalion, note “disposition of remains unknown.” However, a Marine Corps casualty card gives the location as “Central Division Cemetery, Row B, Grave 50.” The original source for this information, unfortunately, is unknown.
The Central Division Cemetery, also known as “Cemetery 26,” was excavated by the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company in 1946. If Jack DeLellis was in fact buried there, his remains were not among those identified at the time. He may have been moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and buried as an unknown.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Grace DeLellis.
Location Of Loss
PFC DeLellis was killed in action at an unspecified location on Betio.
