Robert John Brand
Corporal Robert J. “Bob” Brand served with How Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 346616
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 9, 1921
at Sheboygan, WI
Parents
John Nic Brand
Caroline (Stieber) Brand
Education
Central High School (1939)
Occupation & Employer
Badger State Tannery
Service Life
Entered Service
January 6, 1942
at Milwaukee, WI
Home Of Record
2318 South 16th Street
Sheboygan, WI
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Caroline Brand
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
H/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart (Guadalcanal)
with Gold Star (Tarawa)
Additional Service Details
Then-Private Brand suffered shrapnel wounds to his left shoulder on Guadalcanal, 13 January 1943.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Corporal Robert Brand served with Company H, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign. His company was armed primarily with water-cooled machine guns and 81mm mortars.
As the heavy weapons outfit of their battalion, How Company’s Marines were attached to different assault units for the 20 November 1943 landings on Betio. Their primary objective was to cross Beach Red 2 and support the advance of rifle platoons advancing towards the airfield. However, furious Japanese opposition destroyed unit cohesion and the gunners wound up fighting where they could, with what weapons they managed to bring ashore.
Corporal Brand was last seen alive on the day of the landings. He was reported missing in action immediately after the battle, but eyewitness testimony later confirmed his death in action caused by gunshot wounds to the head.
Burial Information or Disposition
Brand was reportedly buried in the Western Division Cemetery, Row B. Primary sources disagree as to the exact grave, listing either #3 or #5. This cemetery was later beautified and reconstructed as “Cemetery 11” by Navy garrison troops; numerous remain were exhumed from this location after the war, but Brand’s were not among those identified.
At some point in 1944, a marker bearing Robert Brand’s name was placed in a small cemetery near Betio’s Red Beach One. “Cemetery 18” contained four graves – two men from H/2/2 (Private Frank C. Andruseasky and Corporal Brand) and two from K/3/2 (Platoon Sergeant Basil Norman Jr. and PFC Henry Lutzow). These markers may have been intended as memorials, as the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company did not report recovering any remains from this location.
If Corporal Brand truly was once buried in “Cemetery 11,” his remains may be buried as an unknown in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific today.
You informed us that the Remains of our Son was not found under his marker. Which could mean it was a Sea Burial. But at the time we were informed that a Burial had taken place on the Island on Tarawa. And also a Marine came to our home, and told us that he and some of his Buddies buried our son. They had found his Wallet, got his name and address and also snapshots of him, his dog tag also was on him. He explained how he was wounded. He said they made a Box of driftwood and placed burlap to cushion his head, and buried him by a little red tree. Was this all only to make us feel good, or what should we think?
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Caroline Brand.
Location Of Loss
Corporal Brand’s company landed on Betio’s Beach Red 2.
