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U.S. Marine Killed in WWII 73 Years Ago Returns Home
freebeacon.com ^
| Nov. 29, 2016
| Jack Heretik
Posted on 11/30/2016 3:31:02 PM PST by PROCON
A young Marine killed in the bloody World War II Battle of Tarawa has finally been brought home and has been laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
Pfc. Wilbur C. Mattern was 23 years old when he was killed on November 21, 1943, the second day of the three-day battle to take the atoll back from the Japanese. He was found earlier this year by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), whose function is to search for missing American servicemembers around the world, identify them and return them home for proper burial with honors.
Mattern was buried on the 73rd anniversary of his death, November 21, 2016 with a Marine Honor Guard present. Mattern was from Oelwein, Iowa.
The DPAA and Department of Defense provided images of Mattern’s funeral.
The DPAA notes that they have found and returned 113 American servicemembers so far in 2016.
During the Battle of Tarawa, 1,100 Americans and 4,000 Japanese were killed. The island was crucial to the American campaign in the Pacific so that a bomber airstrip could be established for future assaults.
TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: home; tarawa; usmarine; wilburcmattern; wwii
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TributeWelcome Home Marine!
Thank you for your Service to our Country.
1
posted on
11/30/2016 3:31:02 PM PST
by
PROCON
To: Jet Jaguar
2
posted on
11/30/2016 3:31:26 PM PST
by
PROCON
(Onto the Great American Rebirth!)
To: PROCON
Whew, damn, talk about getting choked up watching that. Thanks for showing this, and thank you Marine Corps Pfc.Wilbur C. Mattern for your service, God bless you and your family.
To: PROCON
May God bless you and your family and friends
4
posted on
11/30/2016 3:36:00 PM PST
by
Sasparilla
(I Am Not Tired Of Winning)
To: PROCON
5
posted on
11/30/2016 3:41:59 PM PST
by
HANG THE EXPENSE
(Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
To: PROCON
Semper Fidelis
Rest easy, Marine.
Thank you.
6
posted on
11/30/2016 3:45:33 PM PST
by
canalabamian
("The same things win, that always won..." Coach Paul W. Bryant)
To: PROCON
I once had the honor of speaking with a vet who took part in Tarawa, along with other island invasions up to Iwo Jima. He said Tarawa was the worst of the all.
To: hinckley buzzard
To: All
9
posted on
11/30/2016 3:51:15 PM PST
by
guido911
(all)
To: PROCON
Whenever this old Army guy thinks of the Marines I remember Admiral Nimitz's assessment of their performance in the Battle of Iwo Jima
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
To: hinckley buzzard
I once had the honor of speaking with a vet who took part in Tarawa,... I had the honor of a father (2nd Div) who took part on Guadalcanal and Tarawa. After a few more stops, he ended up with the 6th Marine div on Okinawa...
11
posted on
11/30/2016 4:41:26 PM PST
by
SuperLuminal
(Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
To: SuperLuminal
12
posted on
11/30/2016 5:00:37 PM PST
by
combat_boots
(God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her! And please, God, bless the USA again.)
To: PROCON
13
posted on
11/30/2016 5:00:51 PM PST
by
combat_boots
(God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her! And please, God, bless the USA again.)
To: PROCON
“1,100 Americans killed”
That’s not counting another 700 that died when an aircraft carrier supporting the invasion was torpedoed offshore.
To: MaxistheBest
The USS Liscome Bay aircraft carrier was sunk during the battle...Doris Miller died on that ship...he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding JR in Pearl Harbor...he received the Medal of Honor.
To: forgotten man
16
posted on
11/30/2016 5:25:52 PM PST
by
zek157
To: PROCON; markomalley; DYngbld; TADSLOS; xsrdx; big'ol_freeper; Mark17; mikefive; JDoutrider; ...
To: PROCON
RIP, and Welcome Home Marine.
18
posted on
11/30/2016 5:36:42 PM PST
by
rottndog
('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
To: PROCON
God bless you and thank you, Sir.
My Dad’s best friend is still MIA on Tarawa.
Clarence K. Ary and all the other MIA’s, RIP.
19
posted on
11/30/2016 5:52:22 PM PST
by
laplata
( Liberals/Progressives have diseased minds.)
To: Jet Jaguar
20
posted on
11/30/2016 6:01:57 PM PST
by
Chode
(You Owe Them Nothing - Not Respect, Not Loyalty, Not Obedience, NOTHING! ich bin ein Deplorable...)
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