Researchers: 139 WWII Marines Found On Tarawa

[livvy]

Researchers: 139 WWII Marines Found On Tarawa

By Melissa Nelson - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Nov 28, 2008 6:54:21 EST


Researchers say they have found 139 graves of Marines from the WWII battle of Tarawa Atoll.

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A Florida man’s quest to find hundreds of Marines buried anonymously after one of World War II’s bloodiest battles could lead to the largest identification of American war dead in history.

Researchers used ground-penetrating radar, tediously reviewed thousands of military documents and interviewed hundreds of others to find 139 graves. There, they say, lie the remains of men who died 65 years ago out in the Pacific Ocean on Tarawa Atoll.

Mark Noah of Marathon, Fla., a 43-year-old commercial pilot and longtime World War II history buff, raised the $90,000 for the Tarawa work by selling rides at air shows and partnering with The American Legion, VFW and other groups. He hopes the government will investigate further after research is given to the Defense Department in January — and he hopes the remains are identified and eventually returned to the men’s families.

“There will have to be convincing evidence before we mount an excavation of any spot that could yield remains,” said Larry Greer, spokesman for the Pentagon’s Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Office.

U.S. government archaeologists would likely excavate a small test site first, he said.

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http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/11/marine_wwii_remains_112608w/%2e

[opihimoimoi]

1. Bring those boys HOME...soon.....

[mopinko]

2. crazy

yes, get them back to their families.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Marines don't leave Marines behind if at all possible. nt

[Enthusiast]

4. What happened to Japanese remains?

Did we burn them? I mean, they were killed nearly to a man. Just wondering.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

5. Due Respect

A truly respectful nation never lets those who paid the ultimate price go unrecognized. The Tarawa remains deserve a recognition, albeit belated, and proper reinterment.

[MadMaddie]

6. They seem pretty confident that they have found them.

I hope they are able to bring them home.