Robert Carter

Robert Carter was born 22 June 1924, Brawley, CA. He enlisted in the USMC on 29 January 1943 in Portland, OR.

PVT Carter was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, when his unit landed against stiff Japanese resistance. PVT Carter perished on the first day of battle, November 20, 1943. After the battle, those who died were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, remains were recovered, but PVT Carter was not accounted for and remained on the list of Missing in Action/Body not Recovered.

In 2015, a nongovernmental organization, History Flight, Inc., notified the official Defense organization, DPAA, that a burial site was discovered on the island and the NGO had recovered what they believed to be 35 sets of remains believed to be United States Marines from the Battle of Tarawa.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 11:00 AM Private Carter will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia. Those attending the service, are requested to meet at the Administrative Building by 10:00 AM