Pembroke Thomas Hamilton
PFC Pembroke T. Hamilton served with George Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 487808
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
July 3, 1923
at Lynn, MA
Parents
Percy W. Hamilton
Edith (Little) Hamilton
Education
Marblehead High School (ex-1943_
Occupation & Employer
Colbert’s Market
Service Life
Entered Service
November 9, 1942
at Boston, MA
Home Of Record
4 Humphrey Street
Marblehead, MA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Edith Hamilton
Military Specialty
Machine Gunner
Primary Unit
G/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Pembroke Hamilton served with George Company, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign.
On 20 November 1943, G/2/2 was designated to land as a support wave on Betio’s Beach Red 2, following Easy and Fox Companies of their battalion. Their LVTs began taking fire as they approached the beach – an experience described by George Company veteran Robert Twitchell:
Coming in along the pier we could hear the THUMPA-THUMPA-THUMPA of machine gun slugs hitting the armor plate, and every few seconds the KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA of a mortar shell exploding alongside. "My God, my God," I repeated over and over, "what the hell am I doing here?"
No one hesitated jumping or leaping over the side of the amtrac – it was the only way to exit as there were no doors. For a few long seconds you are a very visible target..... Lying on the already stained white coral sands and half floating in the lagoon were four of the men who I had just rode in with, slept with, prayed with and hoped with.... The horrible realization of what had happened struck me; the other five men in that amtrac must have been killed or wounded as they tried to climb up and over the side....
PFC Hamilton was reported as missing in action following the battle, and ultimately declared dead as of 20 November 1943.
Sergeant Hy Hurwitz, a Boston Globe reporter turned combat correspondent, got to know PFC Hamilton on the way to Tarawa. After the battle, he tracked down members of the informal “BC Club” of Boston Marines in hopes of learning about Hamilton’s fate.
Coming from different units, most of us didn't realize the numerical strength of Hubtown Marines until one night when the inevitable battle between states was begun and PFC Pembroke T. Hamilton, Marblehead, was asked to pronounce "sharks in the harbor." It seems that the Boston "broad A" is the butt of jests thrown at us who come from the "City of Culture." We constantly are being asked to say things which emphasize the first letter of the alphabet
Hamilton, a former Marblehead High School football star, was placed on the missing list on Nov. 20. He was with a 10-man machine gun squad that may never have reached shore. Their landing boat was shot out from underneath them and the entire squad is unreported.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; identifiable remains were not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Grave 7, Row 2, Plot 14.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Edith Hamilton.
Location Of Loss
PFC Hamilton was last seen in the vicinity of Betio’s Red Beach 2.
