Donald Roy Stewart
Private Donald R. Stewart served with King Company, Third Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 282166
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
March 1, 1921
at Yakima, WA
Parents
Joe Donald Stewart
Madge Helen (Paull) Stewart
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
January 29, 1940
at Seattle, WA
Home Of Record
Yakima, WA
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Joe D. Stewart
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
K/3/8th Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Donald Stewart served with King Company, 8th Marines during the Guadalcanal campaign and in the battle of Tarawa.
The amphibious assault on Betio, Tarawa atoll – Operation GALVANIC – commenced on 20 November 1943. The Third Battalion, 8th Marines were in reserve for the landing operation, but were ordered to stand by in their LCVPs and were afloat by 1015. At 1200, the battalion’s first wave (which included King Company) began heading towards Beach Red 3 to support the heavily-engaged BLT 2-8.
Several hundred yards from the beach, the LCVPs slammed into a coral reef and stopped. Ramps went down, and Marines gamely jumped out into water over their heads. Some drowned, while the rest faced “heavy 40mm, machine gun, and mortar fire” that shredded their ranks. Only about a hundred disorganized, demoralized men – less than a company – made it to shore. The King Company survivors were sent to hold the left flank of the Marine line, and endured heavy machine gun and sniper fire for the rest of the day.
Private Stewart was last seen alive during the landing operation. An account from fellow veteran Bob Voorhees suggests that Stewart never made it to shore.
George Thor from K Company saw 1Sgt. [Michael P.] Konz killed on the same boat on which my best friend Private Donald R. Stewart was killed, and also my friend Sgt. Reuben Knodel who had 20 pounds of TNT on his back.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; missing in action.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 14, Row 3, Grave 14.
Next Of Kin Address
Approximate address of father, Mr. Joe Stewart.
The Stewarts lived on Rural Route 6 outside of Yakima proper.
Location Of Loss
Stewart’s battalion landed at various locations between Beach Red 2 and Red 3.
