Victor Harold Silver
PFC Victor H. “Vic” Silver served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 486540
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 19, 1923
at Cincinnati, OH
Parents
Stanley David Silver
Cecil Daisy (Faust) Silver
Education
Three years high school
Occupation & Employer
Store Helper
New York Central Railroad
Other
Silver spent one year in the Civilian Conservation Corps
Service Life
Entered Service
November 10, 1942
at Cincinnati, OH
Home Of Record
3364 Southside Avenue
Cincinnati, OH
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Cecil Silver
Military Specialty
Heavy Machine Gunner
Primary Unit
M/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Victor Silver served with Mike Company, the heavy weapons unit of the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines. He was specially trained with the .30-caliber water-cooled Browning machine gun.
On 20 November 1943, Silver’s battalion was assigned the task of spearheading the assault on Betio’s Beach Red One – a curved stretch of sand running several hundred yards from the “bird’s beak” in the west to Red Two in the east. The natural shape of the beach created a crossfire for the defenders, and the area became known as “the Pocket.” Slow-moving landing craft were quickly targeted from multiple angles, and many were knocked out as they approached the shore. Hundreds of men were killed or wounded before stepping foot on dry land. Those who survived faced a network of obstacles manned by determined Japanese defenders, and the fighting was close-in and savage.
PFC Silver was reported missing on 20 November, either during the landing or shortly after coming ashore. No further reports of his disposition ever arrived, and in January 1944 his status was changed to killed in action.
Burial Information or Disposition
None reported; identifiable remains not recovered.
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 11, Row 1, Grave 11.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Cecil Silver.
Location Of Loss
PFC Silver’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Beach Red One.
