I.B. was a Corporal serving in the US Marines and was one of the 19 marines killed in The Makin Island Raid (occurred on 17–18 August 1942), an attack by the United States Marine Corps on Japanese military forces on Makin Island (now known as Butaritari Island) in the Pacific Ocean. USMC casualties were 19 killed in action and 12 missing in action. They were buried by the Butaritari people in a Makin Island grave with the greatest of respect and dignity, each with in their uniforms, with their helmets, dog tags, and rifles still in their hands. In December 1999, 58 years after the raid, a Butaritari man who assisted in the burials as a teenager, helped locate the remains of the 19 Marines on Makin Island. They were sent to the Defense Department's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii where they were each identified. Sadly, the remaining eleven Marines were never located. I.B., along with five of his fellow Marines, were returned to their families for private burial ceremonies. The remaining 13 were buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. I.B. was the beloved son of Ira Robert and Ella Mae Earles.
I.B. was a Corporal serving in the US Marines and was one of the 19 marines killed in The Makin Island Raid (occurred on 17–18 August 1942), an attack by the United States Marine Corps on Japanese military forces on Makin Island (now known as Butaritari Island) in the Pacific Ocean. USMC casualties were 19 killed in action and 12 missing in action. They were buried by the Butaritari people in a Makin Island grave with the greatest of respect and dignity, each with in their uniforms, with their helmets, dog tags, and rifles still in their hands. In December 1999, 58 years after the raid, a Butaritari man who assisted in the burials as a teenager, helped locate the remains of the 19 Marines on Makin Island. They were sent to the Defense Department's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii where they were each identified. Sadly, the remaining eleven Marines were never located. I.B., along with five of his fellow Marines, were returned to their families for private burial ceremonies. The remaining 13 were buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. I.B. was the beloved son of Ira Robert and Ella Mae Earles.
Bio by: Mz Fish
Inscription
CPL, 2 RAIDER BN WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Son of Ira Robert and Ella Mae Earles.
Family Members
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