Louis Faria
PFC Louis Faria served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 367747
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 29, 1920
at Richmond, CA
Parents
Julio Faria
Maria (Furtado) Faria
Education
C. K. McClatchy High School (1940)
Occupation & Employer
Southern Pacific Railroad Company
Service Life
Entered Service
February 4, 1942
at San Francisco, CA
Home Of Record
2673 17th Street
Sacramento, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Maria C. Faria
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
M/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Louis Faria served with Mike Company, the heavy weapons unit of the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines. His outfit was armed with 81mm mortars and water-cooled .30 caliber machine guns.
On 20 November 1943, Faria’s battalion was assigned the task of spearheading the assault on Betio’s Beach Red One – a curved stretch of sand running several hundred yards from the “bird’s beak” in the west to Red Two in the east. The natural shape of the beach created a crossfire for the defenders, and the area became known as “the Pocket.” Slow-moving landing craft were quickly targeted from multiple angles, and many were knocked out as they approached the shore. Hundreds of men were killed or wounded before stepping foot on dry land. Those who survived faced a network of obstacles manned by determined Japanese defenders, and the fighting was close-in and savage.
At some point during the battle’s first day, PFC Faria suffered a fatal bullet wound to the head. No additional details of his death are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
Although Faria’s death was confirmed by his battalion, they were unaware of any burial information after the battle. Subsequent Graves Registration efforts failed to identify his remains among the hundreds of fallen Marines on Betio.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 4, Row 1, Grave 17.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Julio & Maria Faria.
Location Of Loss
PFC Faria’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Beach Red One.
