Marine Accounted For From World War II (Fricks, H.)
Release No: 20-054 April 27, 2020
WASHINGTON —
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. Hugh D. Fricks, 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 16, 2020.
In November 1943, Fricks was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th 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. Fricks died on the fourth day of battle, Nov. 23, 1943. He was reported to have been buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33.
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FRICKS, HUGH DORIAN
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division
Date of Action: November 22, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Hugh Dorian Fricks, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Machine Gun Reconnaissance Officer, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 22, 1943. Defying constant danger from enemy machine-gun and mortar fire while advancing with his battalion, First Lieutenant Fricks conducted various reconnaissances, maintained contact between forward rifle elements and went from foxhole to foxhole pointing out targets and directing machine-gun fire. Tirelessly continuing his perilous task until mortally wounded by an enemy grenade later in the action, he served as an inspiring example to his battalion in delivering a devastating blow to Japanese forces in that sector. His great personal valor, heroic self-sacrifice and brilliant leadership in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 917 (March 24, 1944)
Born: at Memphis, Tennessee
Home Town: Seattle, Washington
Release No: 20-054 April 27, 2020
WASHINGTON —
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. Hugh D. Fricks, 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 16, 2020.
In November 1943, Fricks was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th 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. Fricks died on the fourth day of battle, Nov. 23, 1943. He was reported to have been buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33.
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FRICKS, HUGH DORIAN
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division
Date of Action: November 22, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Hugh Dorian Fricks, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Machine Gun Reconnaissance Officer, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 22, 1943. Defying constant danger from enemy machine-gun and mortar fire while advancing with his battalion, First Lieutenant Fricks conducted various reconnaissances, maintained contact between forward rifle elements and went from foxhole to foxhole pointing out targets and directing machine-gun fire. Tirelessly continuing his perilous task until mortally wounded by an enemy grenade later in the action, he served as an inspiring example to his battalion in delivering a devastating blow to Japanese forces in that sector. His great personal valor, heroic self-sacrifice and brilliant leadership in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 917 (March 24, 1944)
Born: at Memphis, Tennessee
Home Town: Seattle, Washington
Marine Accounted For From World War II (Fricks, H.)
Release No: 20-054 April 27, 2020
WASHINGTON —
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. Hugh D. Fricks, 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 16, 2020.
In November 1943, Fricks was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th 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. Fricks died on the fourth day of battle, Nov. 23, 1943. He was reported to have been buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRICKS, HUGH DORIAN
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division
Date of Action: November 22, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Hugh Dorian Fricks, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Machine Gun Reconnaissance Officer, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 22, 1943. Defying constant danger from enemy machine-gun and mortar fire while advancing with his battalion, First Lieutenant Fricks conducted various reconnaissances, maintained contact between forward rifle elements and went from foxhole to foxhole pointing out targets and directing machine-gun fire. Tirelessly continuing his perilous task until mortally wounded by an enemy grenade later in the action, he served as an inspiring example to his battalion in delivering a devastating blow to Japanese forces in that sector. His great personal valor, heroic self-sacrifice and brilliant leadership in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 917 (March 24, 1944)
Born: at Memphis, Tennessee
Home Town: Seattle, Washington
Release No: 20-054 April 27, 2020
WASHINGTON —
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. Hugh D. Fricks, 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 16, 2020.
In November 1943, Fricks was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th 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. Fricks died on the fourth day of battle, Nov. 23, 1943. He was reported to have been buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRICKS, HUGH DORIAN
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division
Date of Action: November 22, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Hugh Dorian Fricks, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Machine Gun Reconnaissance Officer, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 22, 1943. Defying constant danger from enemy machine-gun and mortar fire while advancing with his battalion, First Lieutenant Fricks conducted various reconnaissances, maintained contact between forward rifle elements and went from foxhole to foxhole pointing out targets and directing machine-gun fire. Tirelessly continuing his perilous task until mortally wounded by an enemy grenade later in the action, he served as an inspiring example to his battalion in delivering a devastating blow to Japanese forces in that sector. His great personal valor, heroic self-sacrifice and brilliant leadership in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 917 (March 24, 1944)
Born: at Memphis, Tennessee
Home Town: Seattle, Washington
Inscription
FRICKS HUGH DORAN
FIRST LIEUTENANT • USMC • WASHINGTON
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Washington.
Other Records
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Records on Ancestry
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1930 United States Federal Census
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Web: U.S., Marine Corps Casualty Indexes, 1940-1958
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1940 United States Federal Census
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U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas
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U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949
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