Tarawa, coral atoll of the Gilbert Islands and capital of Kiribati, in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It lies 2,800 miles (4,500 km) northeast of Australia and is the most populous atoll in the Gilberts. Tarawa consists of a lagoon fringed by a V-shaped reef 22 miles (35 km) long and made up of more than 30 islets.

Remnants still remain from The Battle of Tarawa.  It was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died during the battle, mostly on and around the small island of Betio, in the extreme southwest of Tarawa Atoll.

The KSSL shipyard was the site of Cemetery 27 were a large number of Marines had been buried. Just a few months before my arrival in late January 2016 Medal Of Honor recipient 1ST LT Alexander Bonnyman Jr. remains were recovered from this cemetery. Our challenge was to dig under this building to recovers MIA Marines.

History Flight office was on the second floor of this building. History Flight is a privately operated, 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization dedicated to researching, recovering and repatriating America’s service members back to United States of America. These individuals have been listed as Missing in Action (MIA) or deemed non-recoverable during the past American conflicts of WWII, Korean War, Cold War, and Vietnam War.

Daniel “Doc” Jacobs, former Navy Corpsman was our Medic and logistics guy.

All individuals that would be involved with this recovery mission were swabbed for DNA so as not to be confused with MIA findings.

Before digging under the building our structural engineer Kevin Jordan had a plan to support the building while digging five to six feet underneath

A number of the locals were hired to help in the digging and sifting of soil for remains.

Because the water table on Tarawa is only 2 ½ to five feet below the ground's surface an artesian well was set up to pump the water out away from where we were digging under the building.

Most of our team members were former military. Connor Dixon U.S.M.C. helped with the surveying of a number of grave site areas.

Forensic anthropologist Kristen Baker and Meredith Tise

Katarake was our main guy among the workers.

Believed to be remains of Pvt. William E. Rambo

Our team

Team leader Glen Prentice (Vietnam Marine). Our recovery mission was a success and now we have to restore the building to its original condition.

Cement had to be hand mixed, poured and troweled.

Was honored to be part of the 2016 “History Flight” mission to the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands for the recovery of a number of Marines.

At BWI airport on 31 March 2022 third cousin Paul Rambo awaits the return home of Tarawa Marine Pvt. William E. Rambo

BWI Airport Fire Rescue 43

American flight #2314 brought home Pvt. William E. Rambo of the United States Marine Corps, Active Duty who was “Killed in Action” on November 20, 1943, in the Battle of Tarawa. The battle took place during World War II on the Island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pvt. Rambo was 20 years old and from LaPorte, Indiana.

Marine Body Bearers stand at the ready

Hand Salute is called, Mike Dunn BWI Security salutes as the casket bearing the remains of Pvt. William E. Rambo is lowered down the ramp

Marine Escort: SSgt Alejandro Peralta accompanied Home Pvt. William E. Rambo

Cousin Paul Rambo and other family members paying their respects.

Marine Body Bearers move towards the casket

We thank Pvt. William E. Rambo for his faithful service and dedication to our country, Semper Fidelis Marine.

Marine Body Bearers place the casket containing the remains of Pvt. William E. Rambo into the hearse.

TAPS were played and one final salute

And then the rains came down. Private Rambo will be buried on Monday April 4, 2022 in Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.

The Real Rambo Has Come Home!

Marine Barracks Washington DC Color Guard

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band

Fort Myer Army caisson team

Marine Barracks Washington DC Body Bearers

Sergeant Major Jesse Dorsey, Sergeant Major Celina Stockton along with Marine Corporal Platoon Flag bearer.

The casket will be removed from the hearse and placed, secured on the caisson

Adjustments are made to secure the flag of Our Country

Sergeant Major Celina Stockton leads us on to Section 62 burial site

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band

Marine Body Bearers follow behind the Fort Myer Army caisson team

Remains of Pvt. William E. Rambo are removed from the caisson and carried by Marine Barracks Washington DC Body Bearers to Section 62 burial site lead by Navy Chaplain.

The Marines have a long-standing tradition of carrying the casket at shoulder height, which symbolizes the respect and honor given to the fallen. This practice reflects the Marine Corps' emphasis on discipline, precision, and ceremonial excellence.
“The Last to Let You Down.” They are the Body Bearers, an elite unit that carries Marines to their final resting place.

Navy Chaplain addresses the family and prays for this fallen hero.

Rifle Salute

TAPS

The thirteen folds of the flag

The folded flag is passed along to the awaiting officer for presentation to the family member.

Sergeant Major Jesse Dorsey presents flag saying "On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and Corps."

A felt bag containing casings from the rifle salute are presented to the family

Fern Sumpter Winbush the Principal Deputy Director for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) makes a presentation to the family.

We thank Pvt. William E. Rambo for his faithful service and dedication to our country, Semper Fidelis Marine.

In November 1943, Pvt. William E. Rambo was a member of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese were virtually annihilated. Rambo was killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943. His remains were reportedly buried in Cemetery 27 on Betio Island.

Since 2003, History Flight missions have recovered the remains of over 130 missing service members, in both the European and Pacific theaters of war, and helped return them to their families. Our organization is also responsible for the recovery of an additional 250 sets of remains; turned over to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) that are currently in the process of identification.