William John Brophy
Private William J. Brophy served with George Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 811875
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 13, 1923
at Chippewa Lake, OH
Parents
James C. Brophy
Gertrude (Reighard) Brophy
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Trojan Powder Company
Plumbrook Ordnance Works
Service Life
Entered Service
January 23, 1943
at Cleveland, OH
Home Of Record
23 West Front Street
Milan, OH
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Gertrude Brophy
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
G/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private William J. Brophy served with George Company, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign.
On 20 November 1943, G/2/2 was designated to land as a support wave on Betio’s Beach Red 2, following Easy and Fox Companies of their battalion. Their LVTs began taking fire as they approached the beach – an experience described by George Company veteran Robert Twitchell:
Coming in along the pier we could hear the THUMPA-THUMPA-THUMPA of machine gun slugs hitting the armor plate, and every few seconds the KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA-KERWUMPA of a mortar shell exploding alongside. "My God, my God," I repeated over and over, "what the hell am I doing here?"
No one hesitated jumping or leaping over the side of the amtrac – it was the only way to exit as there were no doors. For a few long seconds you are a very visible target..... Lying on the already stained white coral sands and half floating in the lagoon were four of the men who I had just rode in with, slept with, prayed with and hoped with.... The horrible realization of what had happened struck me; the other five men in that amtrac must have been killed or wounded as they tried to climb up and over the side....
At some point during the day’s fighting, Private Brophy suffered multiple shrapnel wounds as well as a gunshot in the chest. This lethal combination ended his life at the age of twenty.
Burial Information or Disposition
After the battle, Private Brophy was reportedly buried in Grave 15, Row C, of the East Division Cemetery.
This location, also known as “Cemetery 33” under the Navy designation system, was exhumed by the 604th Graves Registration Company in 1946. However, none of the remains they found could be identified as William Brophy. He may be buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as an unknown, or possibly still lie on Betio.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Gertrude Brophy.
Mrs. Brophy also lived at Monroeville, OH during the war years.
Location Of Loss
Private Brophy’s company fought in the vicinity of Betio’s Red Beach 2.
