Robert William Fox
PFC Robert W. Fox served with King Company, Third Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 344663
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 13, 1920
at Worcester, MA
Parents
John Edward Fox
Anna Marie (Dupree) Fox
Education
High school graduate
Worcester State University (ex-44)
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
December 27, 1941
at Boston, MA
Home Of Record
32 Cutler Street
Worcester, MA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Ann Fox
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
K/3/8th Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Robert Fox served with King Company, 8th Marines in the Guadalcanal campaign and the battle of Tarawa.
The amphibious assault on Betio, Tarawa atoll – Operation GALVANIC – commenced on 20 November 1943. The Third Battalion, 8th Marines were in reserve for the landing operation, but were ordered to stand by in their LCVPs and were afloat by 1015. At 1200, the battalion’s first wave (which included King Company) began heading towards Beach Red 3 to support the heavily-engaged BLT 2-8.
Several hundred yards from the beach, the LCVPs slammed into a coral reef and stopped. Ramps went down, and Marines gamely jumped out into water over their heads. Some drowned, while the rest faced “heavy 40mm, machine gun, and mortar fire” that shredded their ranks. Only about a hundred disorganized, demoralized men – less than a company – made it to shore. The King Company survivors were sent to hold the left flank of the Marine line, and endured heavy machine gun and sniper fire for the rest of the day.
PFC Fox was one of hundreds of Marines to lose his life on the first day of the battle. He died of wounds received in action; no further details of his death are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
“Division Cemetery, Tarawa.” No further details known.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 13, Row 2, Grave 12.
Note: A lone grave marker for “R. W. Fox” stood as Cemetery 24 – this was PFC Robert Wray Fox (H/2/2nd Marines).
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Ann Fox.
Location Of Loss
Fox’s battalion landed at various locations between Beach Red 2 and Red 3.
