Captain Richard W. Vincent coming home
The folks at the American Legion Post 124 in Westfield, Massachusetts write to tell us that they have the honor of laying Captain Richard W. Vincent, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, United States Marine Corps to his final rest.
Captain Vincent has been missing on the island of Tarawa since November 20, 1943. He was listed as KIA the following January and promoted posthumously from 1st Lieutenant.
Back in December, Hondo reported that his earthly remains were finally identified on October 21st, 2014. The Adjutant of Post 124 writes to tell us that he’ll be laid to rest in his home town of Westfield MA on July 2, 2015 at the family plot in Pine Hill Cemetery with the Legion providing full military honors.
If you’re in the neighborhood, you might want to stop by and pay your (our) respects.
Category: No Longer Missing, We Remember
RIP Sir! Wish I was closer…
Gone but not forgotten…..rest in the arms of the Lord Captain!
The initial Burial of KIAs and the later disinternment was FUBAR.
Half the bodies buried there were never recovered and are under roads, native shacks and garbage heaps.
Old dog..Fubar? Heard that word, but being Military STUPID, translate please
F@cked Up Beyond All Recognition.
See also http://deltabravosierra.com/army-dictionary/.
I can imagine.
Equatorial temperatures (even in November), abnormally low tide in 20NOV43 screwing up amphibious operations, so no real way to evac the dead, all on a tiny island. A massive, immediate health risk from decomposing bodies, I’m amazed they were able to keep track at all.
The Marines interred and recorded the burial sites of over 1,000 bodies. However the graves were in several different locations and the grid coordinates were not accurate enough.
Temporary markings were destroyed by weather, knocked down or inadverdently covered up by military construction on the Island.
In 1946 recovery teams found about half the remains.
Welcome home..
“Gave his Life At Tarawa. We live by deeds not years.” So reads the inscription on the captain’s tombstone, which was installed long ago by his parents, who later came to rest at Pine Hill. They need wait for their beloved son no longer.
Welcome back to the land of your birth, Captain.
Rest now, Always Faithful, by the earthly remains of thy Father and thy Mother. Rest.
After all these years, rest now, back in your native country.
Hand salute.
No matter how long it takes, all deserve to come home.
Welcome home.
Welcome Home.. Rest Well
I live in the next town over and happened to have that day off so i went and paid my respects. Great job by all involved. Semper fi Captain Vincent.