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John Oliver Tremmel, Jr.

Private John O. Tremmel, Jr. served with Fox Company, Second Battalion, 8th 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 Regular
Service Number 813109

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 8, 1924
at Biloxi, MS

Parents

John Oliver Tremmel, Senior
Theresa Claire (Cox) Tremmel

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

January 5, 1943
at New Orleans, LA

Home Of Record

1026 N Rochblane Street
New Orleans, LA

Next Of Kin

Father, Mr. John Tremmel Sr.

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

F/2/8th Marines

Campaigns Served

Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Private John Tremmel served with Fox Company, 8th Marines in the battle for Tarawa.

The amphibious assault on Betio, Tarawa atoll – Operation GALVANIC – commenced on 20 November 1943. The Second Battalion 8th Marines was given the job of assaulting the easternmost of three landing beaches – “Red 3” – and, once ashore, moving inland to quickly secure the airfield that covered much of the tiny island’s surface. A heavy and morale-boosting naval bombardment convinced many Marines that the task would be a simple one, and spirits were high at 0900 when their amphibious tractors started paddling for the beach.

The Japanese were quick to recover. Shells began bursting over the LVTs. “As the tractors neared the shore the air filled with the smoke and fragments of shells fired from 3-inch guns,” notes A Brief History of the 8th Marines. “Fortunately, casualties had been light on the way to the beach, but once the men dismounted and struggled to get beyond the beach, battle losses increased dramatically.” Most of the beach defenses were still intact, and these were supported by row after row of pillboxes, rifle pits, and machine gun nests.

Private Tremmel survived the landing and at most one day ashore, but would not live to see the end of the battle. He was was shot and killed on 21 November 1943, presumably as his battalion attempted to expand their beachhead. No further details of his death are known.

Excerpt from the muster roll of Second Battalion, 8th Marines, November 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition

No specific location recorded; identifiable remains not recovered.

A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 11, Plot 5, Row 3, Grave 5.

Next Of Kin Address

Wartime address of father, John Tremmel Senior.
The Tremmels also resided at 202 Couvas Street, Biloxi, Mississippi.

Location Of Loss

Tremmel’s battalion landed on and fought in the vicinity of Beach Red 3.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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