Joseph Thomas Zazzetti
Private Joseph T. Zazzetti served with Charlie Company, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 499079
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 5, 1922
at Chicago Heights, IL
Parents
Thomas & Ida Zazzetti
Education
Bloom High School (1940)
Occupation & Employer
Assistant Foreman
American Manganese Steel Co.
Service Life
Entered Service
December 7, 1922
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
1508 Hanover Street
Chicago Heights, IL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Ida Zazzetti
Military Specialty
Amphibian Tractor Crewman
Primary Unit
C/2nd Amphtrac Bn.
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Joseph Zazzetti served as an amphibian tractor crewman during the landings at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on the morning of 20 November 1943. His vehicle, an LVT-1 “Alligator,” carried troops from 2/8th Marines in to Red Beach 3.
Japanese gunfire targeted the slow-moving, lightly armored tractors, and an explosive shell hit Zazzetti’s LVT. The young private from Chicago was killed by the blast; although he was confirmed dead, his remains could not later be identified.
Burial Information or Disposition
No information recorded; body not recovered. A memorial grave was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 7, Row 2, Plot 7.
In 1974, a wrecked LVT-2 was unearthed by a construction crew laying a pipeline on Betio. The vehicle lay 75 yards inland from Red Beach One, where it was abandoned after the battle. Numerous human remains were found in the vicinity. Thirty-one of these were determined to be of Japanese or Korean ancestry; one set was segregated as American. Identification tags for Private Henry C. Verhaalen (Company C, 2nd Amphtracs) were found in the vicinity.
Private Zazzetti was one of five Marines whose records were compared against these remains, but without conclusive results.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Ida Zazzetti.
Location Of Loss
Private Zazzetti was killed in action at an unspecified location on Betio.
