Sam John Kourkos
PFC Sam J. “Sammy” Kourkos served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at the battle of Tarawa on 21 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 426670
Current Status
Accounted For
as of 6 December 2016
Recovery Organization
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Read DPAA Press Release
History
[Biography coming soon]
Decorations
Purple Heart
For wounds resulting in his death, 21 November 1943.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, John & Lucie Kourkos.
Location Of Loss
Kourkos’ battalion landed at various locations between Beach Red 2 and Red 3.
Gallery
Sam Kourkos, official Marine Corps portrait, 1942-1943.
20 November 1943: reinforcing waves of Marines watch the smoke-shrouded shore of Betio from their Higgins boat.
The remnants of an ammunition storehouse became a waypoint for many BLT 3-8 Marines on 20 November 1943.
The East Division Cemetery (or Cemetery 33) following a memorial service in January 1944. These are the original burial markers.
The "beautified" Cemetery 33 as seen from the air, March 1944.
Excavations are underway at Cemetery 33 in 1946. Runway is visible at top right.
Comparison dental charts from Kourkos' service record (left) and X-116. When recovered, the skull was missing many teeth – making dental identification impossible at the time.
Skeletal diagram of Unknown X-116, later identified as Kourkos.
Betio Casualties From This Company
(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn