Roger Van Maidment
PFC Roger V. Maidment served with Able Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 492291
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 26, 1924
at Grand Rapids, MI
Parents
George Maidment
Theresa Annis
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
DeLux Machine & Tool Company
Service Life
Entered Service
November 25, 1942
at Los Angeles, CA
Home Of Record
408 North Pine Street
Anaheim, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Theresa Annis
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
A/1/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Roger Maidment served with Company A, First Battalion, 2nd Marines during the invasion of Tarawa. His battalion constituted the regimental reserve, and was ordered to land against heavy opposition at Beach Red 2 on the morning of 20 November 1943.
A squad leader in A/1/2, Sergeant William Rogal, recalled the experience of landing on Red 2. It is likely that “Hollywood” in his story is Roger Maidment – one of only two Angelenos in the company who would lose their lives in the battle.
Within a short time we descended the cargo net into a waiting LCVP. A bit tight, but these boats will handle an entire 40-man platoon…. I am unsure as to how long we circled in the boat but estimate we arrived at the outer edge of the island's reef at about ten o'clock. The assault wave had been ashore for less than one hour. The scene presented to us was discomforting to say the least. Good size caliber shells were hitting around us, and not all were missing….
Our battalion commander, Major Wood B. Kyle, pulled up to our side in the Battalion headquarters boat and directed, "Grab empty amtracs as they return from the beach and go to Red 2, they need help."
One of the men, a kid we called "Hollywood" because that was his home town, stood up in the front of the compartment behind the port side .50-caliber machine gun. He wanted to see ahead to our landing beach. It was a fatal mistake. A 37- or 40-millimeter shell hit the ammo box of the machine gun, exploded, and almost decapitated "Hollywood." The force of the explosion threw his body to the rear of the amtrac, showering everyone on the port side with blood and brains. WELCOME TO TARAWA!
A Marine Corps casualty card provides a different perspective: “Man was last seen trying to make his way through wire entanglement while under heavy enemy fire on Beach Red 2 in the water.”
PFC Maidment may have never reached the beach. Gunshot wounds to his head and chest ended his life on 20 November 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
After the battle, PFC Maidment was reportedly buried in the East Division Cemetery, Row C, Grave 13. This location, also known as “Cemetery 33” during the Navy occupation of the island, was the largest of Betio’s many burial grounds. During “beautification,” a large memorial cemetery was built over the original graves. Maidment had a new marker over Grave 3, Row 2, Plot 2.
However, this marker did not correlate to where Maidment was actually buried. When the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company excavated Cemetery 33 in 1946, they were unable either to locate or identify Maidment’s remains.
Roger Maidment may be buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as an unknown.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Theresa Annis.
Location Of Loss
PFC Maidment was killed during landing operations on Beach Red 2.
Hello,
My name is Mike S. Thank you for posting this information about Roger V Maidment – He was my uncle, and Theresa Annis (his mom) was my grandmother. Anyway, according to my records I want to confirm with you that indeed, he was killed on November 20 during the invasion of Tarawa. The account of the soldier nicknamed “Hollywood” in Sergeant William Rogal’s is chilling, as is the later information on the “casualty card” – either way he died a hero as did so many in the service of their country. Again, I don’t know how to thank you for this information, but we can never give enough honor, or offer up enough thank you’s to all those that gave their lives to protect America and keep it safe: “Freedom is not free.” Finally, we do have in our possession his purple heart that sits proudly on display right in front of his official US marine photo – his service and the ultimate price he paid will never be forgotten and is forever revered in our family. Thank you again, Mike S.