Warren Edward Harding
Private Warren E. Harding served with Item Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 458678
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 5, 1921
at Alton, IL
Parents
William David Harding
Eula (Wallace) Flatley (d. 1942)
Education
Alton High School (one year)
Occupation & Employer
Western Cartridge Company
Service Life
Entered Service
October 5, 1942
at St. Louis, MO
Home Of Record
1121 Brown Avenue
Alton, IL
Next Of Kin
Uncle, Mr. Bill Wallace
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
I/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Warren Harding served with Item Company, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign.
On 20 November 1943, Harding’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.
Harding was killed in action during the landing operations. No specifics of his death are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
No information recorded; identifiable remains not recovered. A memorial marker was erected at Cemetery 33, Grave 12, Row 1, Plot 12.
Interestingly, the name “W. B. Harding” appeared on a painted plaque at Cemetery 13. Warren was the only Harding killed in action at Tarawa – and Cemetery 13 was located near Beach Red One. The 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company exhumed remains from this cemetery after the war; all but one have been identified.
While X-251 bears some physical resemblance to Harding, dental charts are not a good match, and both cases are still unresolved.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of uncle, Mr. Bill Wallace.
Location Of Loss
Private Harding’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Beach Red One.
