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Robert Fred Van Heck

Sergeant Robert F. Van Heck served with Able Company, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 297862

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

ACCOUNTED FOR
2022-2023

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Pursuit Category

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Official press release TBA

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

September 18, 1918
at Chicago, IL

Parents

Gus E. Van Heck
A. Vivian (Coles) Van Heck

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

October 2, 1940
at Chicago, IL

Home Of Record

2051 Fargo Avenue
Chicago, IL

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Vivian Van Heck

Military Specialty

Amphibian Tractor Crewman

Primary Unit

A/2nd Amphtrac Bn.

Campaigns Served

Guadalcanal
Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Sergeant Van Heck served as an amphibian tractor crewman during the assault on Betio, Tarawa atoll. His vehicle was an LVT-1 model christened “Wabbit Twacks” – and painted with the hull number “13 1/2” to ward off bad luck. The “Wabbit Twacks” crew included Sergeant Calvin Hackler and Corporal Claire E. Goldtrap.

On 20 November 1943, “Wabbit Twacks” carried a squad from I/3/2nd Marines from the USS Middleton to land on Beach Red 1. As they approached, the Japanese opened fire on the LVT. As Goldtrap drove “Wabbit Twacks” up onto the beach, Van Heck and Hackler helped toss combat gear over the sides and manned the machine guns mounted on the cab to give Item Company some covering fire. As Goldtrap began to reverse off the beach, a shell exploded right in front of his cab. He stopped just as another shell burst to the rear. Van Heck yelled “Goldy, they have us in a bracket! Let’s get out of here!”

All three Marines were sheltering in the cab when a third shell scored a direct hit. Goldtrap and Van Heck took the full force of the explosion and were instantly killed. Hackler, badly wounded, managed to escape wreckage of “Wabbit Twacks” and survived the battle.

Burial Information or Disposition

After the battle, none of the recovered remains could be identified as Sergeant Van Heck, and no burial information was recorded.

In 2018, the remains of Claire Eulin Goldtrap were identified among those recovered from Cemetery 11 in the years after the war. Since Goldtrap and Van Heck died in the same spot, it is possible that Van Heck was buried nearby as an unknown. A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 11, Grave 3, Row 3, Plot 3.

According to the 2023 DPAA Year In Review, Sergeant Van Heck was accounted for in Fiscal Year 2023. This article will be updated.

Naval officers visit "beautified" Cemetery 11 in 1944. Van Heck's memorial grave is visible in the second row.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Vivian Van Heck

Location Of Loss

Sgt. Van Heck’s LVT was knocked out on the shore of Red Beach 1.

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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