Raymond Nathan Lee
PFC Raymond N. Lee served with Charlie Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 21 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 320153
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
December 16, 1923
at Dunlap, IA
Parents
Robert Nathan Lee (d. 1936)
Florence E. (Parris) Lee (d. 1933)
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
August 13, 1941
at Des Moines, IA
Home Of Record
132 North 7th Street
Omaha, NE
Next Of Kin
Sister, Mrs. Viola Moores
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
C/1/8th Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Raymond Lee served with Charlie Company, 8th Marines, during the campaign for Guadalcanal and the battle of Tarawa.
At midday on 20 November 1943, BLT 1-8 climbed over the sides of their transport ships and boarded LCVPs in Tarawa lagoon. They anticipated imminent landing orders, but due to the desperate situation on the beach were held offshore in their little boats, bobbing in the waves for the rest of the day and a very long night. Early on 21 November, they were ordered to land on Betio’s Beach Red 2.
At 0615, the first waves of 1-8 rushed down the ramps and into the breaking surf on a coral reef some 500 yards from shore. Although friendly troops held the water’s edge, they “immediately came under heavy machine gun fire from both flanks.” The battalion was decimated on the long walk to shore. An action report penned by the 8th Marines noted that “many of the casualties resulted from drowning, due to the heavy packs and equipment men attempted to take across the submerged fringing reef.”
PFC Lee was killed in action during the landing operation. Although his death was confirmed by company officers, no specific location, nature of wounds, or burial information was recorded.
Burial Information or Disposition
“In Division Cemetery, grave unknown.” Also listed as “body not recovered.”
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 11, Plot 2, Row 3, Grave 5.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of sister, Mrs. Viola Martha Moores.
While Viola was Raymond’s legal guardian, he spent most of his life in Iowa.
Location Of Loss
PFC Lee’s battalion landed in the vicinity of Beach Red 2, Betio.