Walter Altie Forren
PFC Walter A. Forren served with Dog Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 367087
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
February 15, 1922
at Ronceverte, WV
Parents
Lonnie Alfred Forren
Minnie (Hall) Forren (d. 1943)
Education
Through elementary school
Occupation & Employer
Truck Driver
Cassco Ice Company
Service Life
Entered Service
February 6, 1942
at Washington, DC
Home Of Record
413 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Lonnie Forren
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
D/1/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Walter Forren served with Company D, First Battalion, 2nd Marines during the battle of Tarawa. As a member of a heavy weapons company, he was assigned to a crew-serviced weapon – either a water-cooled machine gun or 81mm mortar – and expected to provide fire support for fellow Marines in the assault companies. However, fate intervened before Forren had much chance to accomplish his mission.
As far as military administration knew, PFC Forren was successfully evacuated for medical treatment, and telegrams announcing his wounding in action were sent to the next of kin. Weeks and months passed without any further news, and an investigation was launched to help assuage the family’s worries. Officials soon learned that PFC Forren was not present in any military hospital – and in fact had never been admitted to one.
The search for the truth led to PFC Cecil J. Parrish, one of Forren’s buddies from D/1/2nd Marines. Parrish had submitted a statement about the battle, specifically concerning the last time he saw Walter Forren
On 21 November 1943, at about 4 a.m. on Beach Red #2, Forren and I were moving to another position on the beach by circling around a jetty. We were crawling in the water, which was about one foot deep, and we were about 150 yards from the beach when we were fired upon. I was hit in the shoulder, and a few minutes later I saw Forren hit. I saw three or four tracers go into his body and he dropped face down in the water. I stayed in the same spot for about four hours and Forren did not move.
Based in part on Parrish’s statement, and in light of the fact that no further information arose about Forren’s whereabouts, an official finding of death was issued on 21 November 1944.
Burial Information or Disposition
No information available; disposition of remains unknown.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Lonnie Forren.
Location Of Loss
PFC Forren was last seen in the water near a wharf on Betio’s Beach Red 2.
