On August 31, 2016, Marine Corps PFC Anthony Brozyna, 22, killed in World War II, was finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Anthony was the 6th of seven children born to Polish immigrants John and Teresa (nee Babula) Brozyna.
Two days after his 21st birthday, Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at New River and went through training at Parris Island.
PFC Brozyna was with his brothers in the Golf Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (G-2/8) of the 2nd Marine Division when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
It was November 20th (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Anthony - just 22 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Anthony's parents accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were siblings, including Charles Brozna, Walter Brozna, Edward Brozyna, Anna Marie (Brozna) Lavine, John Brozna Jr, and Stanley Brozyna.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Anthony was declared "non-recoverable".
In 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Brozyna and provided their contact information to the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, allowing the Marines to reconnect and coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for Anthony's identification.
On April 7, 2016, the DPAA announced that lab analysis, in conjunction with the totality of circumstantial evidence available, established PFC Brozyna's remains among those returned.
Anthony was finally returned to his family and, on August the 31, 2016, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Private First Class Anthony Brozyna is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Brozyna's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has now been placed next to his name indicating that Anthony has finally been found (99613716).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 16-064 (Aug. 24, 2016)
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Anthony was the 6th of seven children born to Polish immigrants John and Teresa (nee Babula) Brozyna.
Two days after his 21st birthday, Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at New River and went through training at Parris Island.
PFC Brozyna was with his brothers in the Golf Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (G-2/8) of the 2nd Marine Division when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
It was November 20th (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Anthony - just 22 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Anthony's parents accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were siblings, including Charles Brozna, Walter Brozna, Edward Brozyna, Anna Marie (Brozna) Lavine, John Brozna Jr, and Stanley Brozyna.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Anthony was declared "non-recoverable".
In 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Brozyna and provided their contact information to the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, allowing the Marines to reconnect and coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for Anthony's identification.
On April 7, 2016, the DPAA announced that lab analysis, in conjunction with the totality of circumstantial evidence available, established PFC Brozyna's remains among those returned.
Anthony was finally returned to his family and, on August the 31, 2016, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Private First Class Anthony Brozyna is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Brozyna's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has now been placed next to his name indicating that Anthony has finally been found (99613716).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 16-064 (Aug. 24, 2016)
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
On August 31, 2016, Marine Corps PFC Anthony Brozyna, 22, killed in World War II, was finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Anthony was the 6th of seven children born to Polish immigrants John and Teresa (nee Babula) Brozyna.
Two days after his 21st birthday, Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at New River and went through training at Parris Island.
PFC Brozyna was with his brothers in the Golf Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (G-2/8) of the 2nd Marine Division when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
It was November 20th (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Anthony - just 22 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Anthony's parents accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were siblings, including Charles Brozna, Walter Brozna, Edward Brozyna, Anna Marie (Brozna) Lavine, John Brozna Jr, and Stanley Brozyna.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Anthony was declared "non-recoverable".
In 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Brozyna and provided their contact information to the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, allowing the Marines to reconnect and coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for Anthony's identification.
On April 7, 2016, the DPAA announced that lab analysis, in conjunction with the totality of circumstantial evidence available, established PFC Brozyna's remains among those returned.
Anthony was finally returned to his family and, on August the 31, 2016, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Private First Class Anthony Brozyna is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Brozyna's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has now been placed next to his name indicating that Anthony has finally been found (99613716).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 16-064 (Aug. 24, 2016)
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Anthony was the 6th of seven children born to Polish immigrants John and Teresa (nee Babula) Brozyna.
Two days after his 21st birthday, Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at New River and went through training at Parris Island.
PFC Brozyna was with his brothers in the Golf Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (G-2/8) of the 2nd Marine Division when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
It was November 20th (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Anthony - just 22 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Anthony's parents accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were siblings, including Charles Brozna, Walter Brozna, Edward Brozyna, Anna Marie (Brozna) Lavine, John Brozna Jr, and Stanley Brozyna.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Anthony was declared "non-recoverable".
In 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Brozyna and provided their contact information to the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, allowing the Marines to reconnect and coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for Anthony's identification.
On April 7, 2016, the DPAA announced that lab analysis, in conjunction with the totality of circumstantial evidence available, established PFC Brozyna's remains among those returned.
Anthony was finally returned to his family and, on August the 31, 2016, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Private First Class Anthony Brozyna is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Brozyna's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has now been placed next to his name indicating that Anthony has finally been found (99613716).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 16-064 (Aug. 24, 2016)
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Inscription
ANTHONY / BROZYNA
PFC / US MARINE CORPS / WORLD WAR II
MAY 11 1921 / NOV 20 1943
PURPLE HEART
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
