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Wilbur Donald Murphy

PFC Wilbur D. Murphy served with Dog Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 22 November 1943.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 487375

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

September 19, 1924
at Canton, OH

Parents

Wilbur David Murphy (d. 1944)
Lillian Agnes (Stewart) Butler

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

National Youth Administration

Service Life

Entered Service

November 3, 1942
at Cleveland, OH

Home Of Record

735 Vine Street
Coshocton, OH

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Lillian Butler

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

D/1/8th Marines

Campaigns Served

Tarawa

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Wilbur Murphy served with Dog Company, 8th Marines, during the the battle for Tarawa.

At midday on 20 November 1943, BLT 1-8 climbed over the sides of their transport ships and boarded LCVPs in Tarawa lagoon. They anticipated imminent landing orders, but due to the desperate situation on the beach were held offshore in their little boats, bobbing in the waves for the rest of the day and a very long night. Early on 21 November, they were ordered to land on Betio’s Beach Red 2.

At 0615, the first waves of 1-8 rushed down the ramps and into the breaking surf on a coral reef some 500 yards from shore. Although friendly troops held the water’s edge, they “immediately came under heavy machine gun fire from both flanks.” The battalion was decimated on the long walk to shore. An action report penned by the 8th Marines noted that “many of the casualties resulted from drowning, due to the heavy packs and equipment men attempted to take across the submerged fringing reef.”

PFC Murphy survived the long walk to shore and the fighting that followed, but would not live to see the end of the battle. He was reported missing on 22 November 1943; when nothing more was learned of his whereabouts, his status was changed to “killed in action.”

Burial Information or Disposition

None recorded; reported as missing in action.

A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 33, Plot 14, Row 2, Grave 2.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Lillian Butler.

Location Of Loss

PFC Murphy’s battalion landed and fought in the vicinity of Beach Red 2, Betio.

Gallery

Betio Casualties From This Company​

(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
*Although BLT 1-8 did not land until 21 November, the official date of death for some personnel is given as 20 November 1943.
The reasons for this discrepancy are not known.
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