Tarawa Cemetery 29
"Isolated Grave 29"
0
Remains Recovered
1946
0
Unidentified Remains
2021
0
Unaccounted For
2021
Cemetery 29 contained two markers for PFC Leonard Elias Kristal and PFC Harold Richard Burch. Both Marines were killed in action on 20 November 1943.
According to Navy-produced maps, Cemetery 29 was located on Red 3, the easternmost landing beach. During the battle, the Second and Third Battalions, 8th Marines, assaulted this beach. This presents an interesting conundrum, as Kristal and Burch both served with the 2nd Marines. Burch’s company (A/1/2) landed on Red 1, at the opposite end of the island. Kristal served with Weapons Company, 2nd Marines; we do not know which beach he was assigned, but it was almost certainly either Red 1 or Red 2 with the rest of his regiment.
Furthermore, both Marines have conflicting burial information in their Marine Corps documentation. Burch was reported as buried “in the field on Beach Green” by his battalion’s muster roll. Kristal’s was more specific: “next to Japanese cement mixer near Hawkins Field.” Finally, their casualty cards included an addendum: “Near airport, isolated grave, Grid Location KH 285100.” This, at least, places the two Marines close together – but plotting the grid coordinates accurately is no easy matter. Only a few maps (such as the D-4 example below” are drawn on this system, and the lack of detail makes pinpointing a small location like a grave almost impossible.
Kristal
Burch
During the reconstruction and beautification of 1944, Island Commander Erl C. B. Gould noted that “a few bodies were moved to avoid necessary construction work over them” – and, specifically, “two instances for base construction purposes.” He may possibly have been referring to Burch and Kristal, as Cemetery 29 is a long distance from Beach Green. However, without further evidence, this is purely speculative.
The 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company likely found Cemetery 29, but the remains buried there – if any – could not be identified as either Burch or Kristal. Both Marines are still unaccounted for.
