Milton Maynard Beck
Corporal Milton M. Beck served with Able Company, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 346133
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 3, 1917
at Bashaw Township, MN
Parents
Arned Beck (d. 1923)
Emma Stewart
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Butter Maker
Nelson Ice Cream Company
Service Life
Entered Service
December 31, 1941
at Minneapolis, MN
Home Of Record
Springfield, MN
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Emma Stewart
Military Specialty
Crew Chief
Amphibian Tractors
Primary Unit
A/2nd Amphtrac Bn.
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Corporal Beck transferred from his regular duties as a crew chief in Company B, 2nd Amphtracs, to Company “A-1” – specializing in new LVT-2 vehicles – shortly before the battle of Tarawa. Some military documents continue to show his previous assignment to Company B.
See Tarawa1943 for more details.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Corporal Beck was reported missing in action during landing operations on Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943. He was subsequently declared dead as of that date.
Investigative work by Jim Hildebrand of Tarawa1943 suggests that Corporal Beck was the crew chief of an LVT-2 that struck a mine off of Green Beach. This vehicle was delivering ammunition to troops of the 6th Marines on the night of 21 November 1943. Tarawa veteran Harold B. Patch recalled learning that a shoe marked with Beck’s name was found near Green Beach – with a foot still inside.
“He said that shoes were difficult to replace and that it was common for marines in New Zealand to mark them with their names. Patch said that he didn’t find the shoe, but someone else did and told him about it. That person knew that Patch had formerly been on Beck’s crew and thought he would want to know.“
It is possible, though not confirmed, that Corporal Beck died in the explosion along with PFC Clarence B. Belter and Pvt. Angelo M. Vellucci. For more information, read Hildebrand’s article “The Green Beach LVT Mystery.”
Burial Information or Disposition
Corporal Beck’s casualty paperwork does not provide any burial information; his remains were noted as “not recovered.” If he was killed in action near Green Beach, he may have been buried in the field by a shore party from the USS Ormsby.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 16, Row 3, Plot 14.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Emma Stewart
Location Of Loss
Corporal Beck was last seen during landing operations at Betio – exact location unknown.
