Marine Pfc. Randolph 'Bud' Allen of Rush, Kentucky, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C on July 29, 2014.

1st Sgt Patricia Trotter and MSgt Leonard J. Spain await the hearse containing the remains of Marine PFC Randolph “Bud” Allen.

In November 1943, Allen was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, which landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure the island against stiff Japanese resistance. Over several days of intense fighting approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. As a result of these attacks, Allen was reported killed in action on Nov. 20, 1943.

In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries. During World War II, U.S. Navy Combat Engineers, “SeaBees,” significantly restructured the landscape to convert the island for use by the military. In 1946 when U.S. Army Graves Registration Service personnel attempted to locate all of the battlefield interments, many of the burials could not be located.

From Nov. 12-27, 2013 a private organization, known as History Flight, excavated what was believed to be a war time fighting position on the island of Betio. During this excavation History Flight recovered five sets of remains, personal effects and military equipment.

Four sets of remains were determined to be Japanese service members and the fifth set was believed to be that of a U.S. Marine. Two sets of military identification tags which correlated to Allen were also found in the fighting position.

1st Sgt Patricia Trotter is presented with the folded flag of PFC Randolph Allen.

Joe Tussey received the flag from 1st Sgt Patricia Trotter that was on the coffin of his Uncle Pfc. Randolph 'Bud' Allen. Private Allen was killed in the Battle of Tarawa during World War II.

A POW-MIA wristband was left by Rolling Thunder® Inc. Virginia Chapter 3.

Marine Pfc. Randolph 'Bud' Allen of Rush, Kentucky, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C on July 29, 2014.
“History Flight” and Mark Noah are responsible for helping to finally bring Home this Marine and others lost during the three day bloody battle for Tarawa.