Woodrow Wilson Wetherington
Private Woodrow W. Wetherington served with How Company, Second Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 444114
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 28, 1918
at Sparks, GA
Parents
J. E. “Zeke” Wetherington
Dovey (Reenes) Wetherington
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Bruce’s Juices Cannery
Service Life
Entered Service
September 10, 1942
at Orlando, FL
Home Of Record
201 North 8th Street
Fort Pierce, FL
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Josephine Wetherington
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
H/2/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Woodrow Wetherington served with Company H, 2nd Marines during the Tarawa campaign. His company was armed primarily with water-cooled machine guns and 81mm mortars.
As the heavy weapons outfit of their battalion, How Company’s Marines were attached to different assault units for the 20 November 1943 landings on Betio. Their primary objective was to cross Beach Red 2 and support the advance of rifle platoons advancing towards the airfield. However, furious Japanese opposition destroyed unit cohesion and the gunners wound up fighting where they could, with what weapons they managed to bring ashore.
Private Wetherington was killed in action when a piece of shrapnel struck him in the face during the landing. He left behind his wife, Josephine, and two small children, Carolyn and Wilson.
Burial Information or Disposition
After the battle, Wetherington’s remains were reportedly buried in the Eastern Division Cemetery, Row C, Grave #30. This location, the largest cemetery on Betio, was located near the southeastern edge of the airfield.
During the occupation of Betio, Navy garrison troops “beautified” the cemeteries and built a large memorial (“Cemetery 33”) on top of the East Division Cemetery. Hundreds of memorial markers were set up, including one for Private Wetherington (Grave 4, Row 2, Plot 6). However, although his body was buried nearby, this marker bore no correlation to the actual spot.
In 1946, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company exhumed the old East Division Cemetery, but were unable to identify any of the remains as Private Wetherington. Today, he may be among the unidentified Marines buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of wife, Mrs. Josephine Wetherington.
Location Of Loss
Private Wetherington’s company landed on Betio’s Beach Red 2.
