Missing WWII heroes found buried under a parking lot in Tarawa

Howard Brisbane's relatives thought he was buried in an idyllic setting. But only days after his death, the WWII service member's grave site was gone - turned into a parking lot, first paved by Americans.

[@fredselbman3319]

As an Infantry Marine myself, I applaud this group for their efforts of recovering the remains of our fallen brothers from WWII, Semper Fi 🇺🇸🙏🏻

[@SP-qo3pd]

You guys can never get enough credit Fred. Thank you!

[@johnrussell5896]

We fight for freedom we go with toe God bless America.. in world war II this all came down.. they oh no let me tell you something they'll be proud for all Americans keep going.. I watch the movie band of brothers grandpa you a hero in the war nope I served with the heroes that sacrifice. Deadliest war was so you could world war II every other war was like you cannot imagine what what everybody went from a soldier to a civilian what they went through all hell broke out God bless USA America never let these things ever happen to anyone

[@lulatorrey6360]

❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢SOHEARTBREAKINGTHANKSTOTHEMILITARYANDTHEWONDERFULSOULSTHATNEVERGAVEUPONLOOKINGFORTHESEBRAVESOULSILOVEOURGREATMILITARYANDIDODONATEANDIWILLALWAYSLOVEANDCHERISHMYHIGHLYDECORATEDVIETNAMMARINE❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢LOVEPEACEBLESSINGAMERICAANDOURSPECIALALLIESKINGTRUMPNOW❤❤❤❤❤❤FJBANDALLHISSORRYUSELESSCABINETUSELESSSORRYOLDICECREAMPIMPANDDONOTFORGETTHEUSELESSUNDEROLDWILLIEBROWNHYENAHAIRYGODPLEASEBLESSOURGREATNATION❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢

[@brianzimmerman4014]

My father landed on Tarawa with the Marines in the third wave on Red Beach 2. He himself had said that everyone knew if you were killed that you would never go home, you would be buried where you fell or near it. The logistics just were not there like Viet Nam to bring you home. He said that after the war, people were just so tired of the war that they let everything lay where it was and tried to forget about it and get on with life for those that survived. We have to remember that this was a different time, they didn't normally bring the dead home back then. As for the air field built over some of the graves or the shoddy record keeping, the war was still going, men were still fighting, and the air field had to be enlarged. Moving the remains would have taken time and logistics that were needed elsewhere.

[@michaelinhouston9086]

Thanks for bringing some reality to this story.

[@fasteddie9055]

There are plenty of unaccounted Vietnam Vets lost in country. All you have to do is bribe the corrupt communist officials and they'll "find" the POW/MIA missing bodies. Otherwise, the Iron Triangle Heroin Mafia will be glad to help. It's all about the money !!!!!!

[@fastsetinthewest]

Partner, I'm a drafted Republic of Vietnam combat veteran '68. The government people hate you. I understand your father. I spent a fortnight in Vietnam field hospital without care. The government hate the living too. We had to buy our own life insurance policy because the government was too cheap to provide it. But by gawd the bastards sent us in harms way on a lie!

[@codacreator6162]

My dad was a Vietnam vet with USMC and acknowledged the same. I got the impression that those Marines understood the circumstances and would not have objected if it meant saving other Marines.

[@edwardgoering1237]

As society attacks Family life more adult teens want to forget how cheaply their parents viewed the Family unit and yes its does reflect of how hard a unit fights knowing thjis might be an outcome

[@joer5627]

My Grandmother’s Brother was one who never made it to shore, nor has been found. His name was Marvin Reynolds. He was 19.

[@sladeb6036]

God bless him for everything he did for our beautiful country.

[@brianzimmerman4014]

My father, who was there as well, said that Marine bodies were reported floating in the shipping lanes for months afterwards. Those that were killed in the water or many on the edge of the waterline were swept to sea with the tides. I'm sorry for your family's loss.

[@carolluther1625]

I am sorry for your loss.

[@PauloPereira-jj4jv]

​​​@@brianzimmerman4014... I don't think they would leave their bodies floating for months. The shore is very shallow even with the tide. The battle took 3 days and they had enought time to collect the bodies after that. Maybe a few of then were lost during the battle.

[@johnabbott2893]

I was stunned by this video. Not all that long ago, I was down at my family's grave site in Pearland, Texas and when I drove in, I saw a large cluster of Marines just down the path. I walked down and was greeted by a man who told me the story of the fallen Tarawa Marine who was finally being brought home. The story I was told was identical to this video. When I saw the hearse coming, I donned my Air Force Veterans hat and walked down to the site. There had to be at least 60 people, mainly from veteran's groups there. Along with a really good contingent of Marines. Only one member of the fallen Marine had been found, a nephew, and he was in attendance. He was given the hero's send off that he deserved and I was so proud to have been given the opportunity to pay my respects for this man. Semper Fi, Marine.

[@larrysfarris]

My uncle (father’s younger brother) was wounded in the Battle of Tarawa, 2nd Marine Division. Sent to Hawaii to recover and wounded again in the Battle of Saipan. RIP, Uncle Garnet - the Greatest Generation.

[@joerobbins6318]

It's a comfort to know there are people working to bring our lost heroes back home .

[@fishyc150]

That they were "lost" is completely understandable... it was brutal war. Guys buried out the back of a dressing station, medics making records and getting killed themselves... it happens. That no one looked for them AFTER the battle was won is however disgusting.

[@genegarren833]

There was an organized veteran's cemetery, but for some reason when the island was abandoned, the cemetery was not taken under the care of the American Battle Monuments Commission. There was a program a number of years back, on this issue. Then of course you have the kind of graves that you discuss above.

[@anibalcesarnishizk2205]

I have read that over 20000 US airmen are buried in unmarked graves in the former territory of the Third Reich.

[@huzary1092]

@@anibalcesarnishizk2205 ...............In the Netherlands, but not only in the Netrherlands, there is a special ( trained ) group that tries to find out who the fallen soldier is , found at official cemetery's or in by accident found graves. That's not for allied soldiers only, they do that for ALL soldiers. So, also for the fallen German soldiers. On regular base family is coming over from Canada or the U.S to pay their respects to a never forgotten family member.

[@THE-HammerMan]

Correct. Well said.

[@anibalcesarnishizk2205]

@@huzary1092 Thanks for the information !!.

[@josephfernandez2130]

My father was a Marine, carrying a BAR; when I asked him about Tarawa, this is what he told me: "Joey, the water was the color of blood!"

[@lafeeshmeister]

Jesus Christ.

[@daviddionne8296]

Semper Fi

[@mcqueenfanman]

Some say it was the hardest amphibious landing of the war.

[@josephfernandez2130]

This is what my father also told me about the landing: that he was in the third wave, and then, at the last minute, he was reassigned to the ninth wave; he then added that "the first seven waves were wiped out" (his words exactly). I remember that he said this last part addressing my mother, as if to say, that on such a thing having happened, depended their ever meeting and raising a family family together*. He added one more thing, that he had no idea why the last-minute change was made... * Please excuse my lack of eloquence here: perhaps a better way to express it would be to cite the Sword of Damocles, that our lives depend on the thinnest of threads...

[@josephfernandez2130]

@Caп¡s Aпuв¡s The short answer is no, my father did not have survivor's guilt for what had happened, keeping in mind that he would never talk about it, and not that I would have recognized it at the time - - I always had to ask him. And he was not always appreciative: "Dad, did you ever kill anyone? I mean, that you knew of?" His answer: a civilian - - on a jungle trail - - he saw me and came at me with a machete; my father's tone of voice was, you got your answer, okay now? But I still had another question; what was I, 10 or 11? "But why did he come at you?" Probably out of his mind on malaria, my father answered; never mentioned it again...

[@micks6797]

My respect goes out to the History Flight for spending their time to recover the remains of these brave servicemen.

[@knightowl3577]

It's so sad that the bodies of such brave men were treated with so little respect by their own fellow countrymen. May they and their families find the peace they deserve.

[@rollotomasi8116]

My dad was a first day lander on Tarawa.....2nd Marines, wounded twice......I would see him just staring sometimes and ask what are you thinking about, and many times it was something that reminded him of that battle......On my dads discharge the description for some of his time in the Marines shows “ due to unavoidable war conditions the information on this discharge certificate is incomplete “ .......Semper Fi to all of the Marines...and thank you to the US Navy.....

[@brianzimmerman4014]

My father was affected by this battle until the day he passed a few years ago. It affected him more than Guadalcanal, Sipan, or Tinian where he had also fought.

[@leesherman100]

Well over 20 cemetery's were dug on the island. The fog of war lost track of many of them. It's a very sad truth I must say. War is hell!

[@ronaldbosmans4387]

Yea and its very soon to repeat itself.

[@KiwiFilmAIRCCS]

All that you say is true..so is the fact that we made a promise , we made a covenant with the soldiers that we would no one behind....after the swords were beaten into plowshares...We should have recovered or established proper memorial area for our Selfless Fallen as the Japanese did for their fallen Thru-our the Pacific!.. How much waste of our National Treasure we have done since all of our military actions...Conditions of our society can be measured on how we treat our dead heroes.... God Bless Our Forgotten Dead Heroes!

[@leesherman100]

@@KiwiFilmAIRCCS Amen.

[@cochinaable]

@Me Smith what year was this? And where in the Philippines?

[@cochinaable]

@Me Smith The narrative of your experience in the Philippines..

[@skiptrace1888]

as a veteran of Iraq myself, I salute this group and what they are doing for my fallen commrades-in-arms! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[@ewencameron1548]

War is horrible lest we forget

[@williamherndon5065]

I did not fight that war. My brother and father did. Thank God they returned home from WWII. BM2(SW-AW) Herndon, WM ret,USN, " Does it storm does it shield Kuwait Saudi liberation armed forces expeditionary."

[@robertbenson9797]

Excellent video. A true heart wrenching story. Tarawa was a terrible battle-this was one of the first landings that the US Navy and Marines had undertaken. If you read battle accounts, the invasion planners had miscalculated the tides. Lots of landing crafts were stuck on coral reefs that ringed the island. Under heavy fire from Japanese coastal guns, Marines abandoned their landing craft and struggled to wade ashore in chest deep water under full combat equipment. The Marines lost almost as many men killed in the 76 hour battle at Tarawa as US troops suffered in the 6 month Guadalcanal campaign. This was a good example of having a great battle plan until the first shots are fired and then the plan goes out the window. The Allied planners learned a lot from this beginning of “ island hopping”. Interestingly, the actor Eddie Albert, was a Lieutenant in the US Naval Reserve and was a coxswain of a US landing craft. He was awarded the Bronze Star with a Combat “V” for his actions during the landing at Tarawa. He rescued 47 Marines that were stranded offshore. He also supervised the rescue of 30 other stranded Marines. In recent years, the US Government has expanded its recovery and identification of lost service personnel. The unit at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska, has been in the lead of identifying deceased service personnel, like the sailors recovered from the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor.

[@RowdyBorders-ni3ti]

GOD Bless those Boys

[@jasonhuttermusic424]

The unexpected tidal errors were also a factor in creating the UDT teams that would go on to become the SEALs. That battle was hellacious. It's a wonder they retrieved any bodies at all.

[@31446963048]

This battle took place 75 years ago. They still find the missing from WWI and other wars, as well as battles as well. Also MIA means there was nothing recoverable in many cases. Its admirable what those volunteers are doing. Thanks guys.

[@dougwestphal7003]

How entirely incomprehensible that an American Servicemen’s remains are abandoned. Forgotten about, ignored. And then the forgotten remains are abandoned and left to be paved over by a parking lot. Americans should be ashamed of our government to have forgotten about a dead service men

[@chrisweber6374]

They didnt care they got what they wanted

[@shable1436]

My grandfather is still in france so i know what you mean

[@KPearce57]

Fog of War, happens everywhere, the body is but a shell, as long as someone speaks name he will be remembered, I have 2 Uncles in Normandy every other year I visit with them, lest they be forgotten.

[@donlove3741]

Dry up !

[@goldenshark3182]

GIG ECONOMIA Democrats FDR & Truman were the Presidents during WWII dumb dumb.

[@mikequinn6273]

My Grandfather, Paul Jussaume was a Marine. He fought on Tarawa. He later fought on Okinawa. He passed at age 94 in 2018. Siempre Fi Pepere'!

[@mariaelenapagan230]

How deplorable to leave a service man behind who served our country and government to be forgotten. R.I.P soldier and welcome home. God Speed 😢😢🙏🏼🙏🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Lisa1111]

It has become quite apparent over the years that the government cares not about anyone but themselves. Thank you for your service ❤️

[@toddjohnson271]

They never do.....the little people are to be used, manipulated, and discarded without fanfare when not useful.

[@chriscase1392]

The island is named Betio, (Bayt-show). The atoll is Tarawa. All the fighting took place on Betio. Many of the missing were probably carried out to sea by the tide and lost. Never forgotten. The living were fighting for their lives, with no time for carefully-laid-out cemetaries.

[@jjdeepsea]

I read once that Betio has the highest casualty rate per square yard than any other WW 2 battle site!

[@hardheadjarhead]

One history I read described finding bodies floating in the lagoon. They were bloated. They’d get the dogtags, and then bayonet the bodies so they would sink. A gruesome burial at sea.

[@joedimaggio2378]

A brutal war that moved so fast with so many deaths it’s almost impossible to have registered , buried and remembered all the bodies

[@julesjules1079]

From one veteran to another: They shall grow not old As we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them Nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun And in the morning We will remember them

[@carlhull8276]

Jules Jules Thanks Jules.

[@danny8930]

Did you write this?

[@julesjules1079]

@@danny8930 No: its the Ode of Remembrance we use in New Zealand: This is the fourth stanza from Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen. Referred to as the Ode of Remembrance, it was first published in The Times of London in September 1914 and has been incorporated into the ritual of remembrance in many countries.

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

Have you all read " wounded" WWI POETRY... Or on the wire? Look them up... Enjoy your liberty

[@jetzjetz3833]

Finally you’re home Mr Howard, thank you for your service and sorry for the long wait and for other brave men waiting for their time don’t worry we will bring you all home it may not right away but soon. ✊

[@JD-gj2rj]

As a USN vet God bless you for bringing him home. War sucks things happen. I'm grateful for those that are doing this work.🙏

[@30AndHatingIt]

I don't often donate to anything, but after watching this I certainly want to contribute in whatever way possible. I have a major soft spot in my heart for the Greatest Generation... always will.

[@idleonlooker1078]

Her quote: "There's only so much a government can do" is infuriating!! The US government can train you and then order you to go to war, fight and then get killed - and once you're dead say "Screw you pal!! We'll build a car park over you, and forget your sacrifice for us!!" That's precisely what's happened here. I'm not an American, but those that were killed in war must be respected and where possible, recovered. Thank God for History Flight and their resolute self-dedication - because the US govt is obviously a useless avenue for support!!

[@knutdergroe9757]

The U.S. was founded and built by farmers. Farmers are practical, not always thinking of Honor, or understand the value of the dead. I am a third generation MARINE combat veteran. My Father was 1st MARINE division in WWII. We lost a cousin in the Battle for Okinawa. My Father was his recruiter. And our cousin fought at Tarawa. The veterans of past wars, had little too no value. We are overhead, a cost. It is changing, we veterans have had enough. And if enough of us Make ourselves heard...... well, I pray it goes a good way.

[@heavenbound1536]

@ensitu my father landed on Tarawa and by God's grace survived. The few times he ever spoke about it was the stench of decaying bodies and body parts that were gathered after the fourth day and trying to figure out what dog tags belong to who

[@genoson1128]

This is so sad these young men went and fought a war and died fighting the good fight and then get forgotten and the government at the time doesn’t even give the family the common curtesy of informing them

[@frankserra6709]

My utmost respect to these men for their upmost sacrifices and to their Families...

[@heavenbound1536]

Frank My father was one of them Thank you

[@gacs1973]

I discovered this video recently. It was done almost 3 years ago. It would be great to have an update so that we would know how this agency is spending their $100+million dollar budget.

[@seosamhfiannachta434]

Glad to see Howard is now in Arlington National Cemetery. The Uncle I’m named after burial in the waters of the Solomon Islands. My father was on board a ship as well that was sunk in the Solomon Islands. My father survived the sinking.It is nice to know they are buried with their brothers. My Uncle’s name on a memorial wall in Manila at the American cemetery. He is on duty on board his ship in the waters of the Solomon, Islands. My father lies at rest in an American cemetery in the USA.

[@quadcoptervision]

respects to Howards family - Howard was a better man than these officials

[@bulldog1131]

So young. Brings tears to my eyes. From Australia I say thank you and God Bless you. Your home now so may you Rest In Peace.

[@tonyengland9744]

I was there in 1993 we were the first US soldiers to return after WW2 .the people are very grateful and love America. They would do whatever it takes to recover any body of fallen soldiers,US Government could care less.

[@tonyengland9744]

@Me Smith that is what the US government has said and did you not see the report our government is the one covering up and not informing the love ones of what has happened with there remains. The Native population is there fall guy and you should have known that. And yes I have actually been there and talked and walked with the people so Iam sure I have a better insight on the true situation.

[@tonyengland9744]

@Me Smith 1993(4)days and our skipper talked personally with The President of The Solomon islands(who actually served side beside with the USMC in ww2.) I did volunteer work for the Catholic school and talked with 10 to 15 local folks.

[@Doesnotcare12]

@@tonyengland9744 about what?

[@tonyengland9744]

@@Doesnotcare12 not sure what you are ? About what?

[@malikjamshed1207]

This is what it is,a soldier fights for his country away from his home land if he got killed then his resting place will be that very place where he dies not the country he fought for depending on circumstances.This is real shame what government had done with this and other war heroes Grave,Memorial.

[@DarianCaplinger]

This is absolutely unconscionable. It's horrid and deplorable. It's every evil name you can give it, and that's what those Marines got. "Semper Fi, Do or Die" is what they lived by and sadly they did the latter, and our country failed them on their part. It's inhumane and disconcerting. You wouldn't even do that to a pet cemetery (then again, they did it to a bunch of Marines, perhaps they would do it to a pet cemetery. Makes me shutter to think it. Thanks for sharing this!

[@pablotown77]

Darian Caplinger there was a veteran who traveled all the way over one of those islands in the pacification and tried to get them back but no one listened. There was a documentary about it. There were unburied remains around the beach.

[@heavenbound1536]

@Keith Schick The few times my father would ever speak about the hardships incurred on those dreadful days between the heat and stench of death and body parts strewn all over. Then trying to put the body parts back together with the correct dog tags . I believe alot was covered up for the sake of the living to survive for sanitary reasons.

[@sharpeguns1]

A pet cemetary, every one would be crying out. This is our new America. Just 1 generation of sedition is all it takes. NOW WE SEE IT, IN FULL BLOOM.

[@colindebourg3884]

Shameful.

[@KPearce57]

Fog of War, happens everywhere, the body is but a shell, as long as someone speaks name he will be remembered, I have 2 Uncles in Normandy every other year I visit with them, lest they be forgotten.

[@davideccles7805]

Excuse Excuse Excuse, this is all we hear when the Government is involved- just think if these Brave Men made Excuses not to serve their Country. Never Trust the Politicians and never trust the Government,

[@stevenkelly2477]

David Eccles shut up...this was not purposely done...it’s part of the fog of war.

[@davideccles7805]

@@stevenkelly2477 Fog of war?? Please explain how the fog of war involes a bulldozer and Graves on a Island?? Your words sound like bullshit to me.

[@davemaxa5263]

Why didn’t you look for them?

[@davideccles7805]

@@davemaxa5263 Dont be stupid, what a Dumb arse statement that is. The Soldiers are the Governments Responsibility to look after and return their Bodies to loved ones . That what this video is about- are your ears and eyes painted on??

[@daves_NOT_Here_Man]

Well said Sir!

[@rosemarybleackley208]

Sleep in peace Howard, we will remember you.😥

[@crosstimbers2]

My dad was in C/1/6 and fought on Tarawa. He said his battalion spent a couple of days gathering bodies after the battle ended. He was only 18 and I doubt that he would be happy about losing the graves of some of his buddies.

[@CapeCodCNC]

Thank you Howard and to all that gave all......

[@elmerhart8984]

Bless you all for your outstanding kindness

[@The1Blackwatch]

It's certainly not unheard of. Remember, King Richard The Third's remains were ultimately located beneath an nondescript car park in the U.K. He was a crowned monarch of England!

[@catherinelw9365]

I thought of that too... finding a king under a parking lot. Incredible.

[@chryssoraidy9838]

God bless History Flight, and Mark Noah who founded it, and all the people who work so tirelessly to try and right this horrific wrong.

[@billcooper6620]

What a second! Mark Noah knew about this because of my father Leon Cooper. Mark Noah called my father a “fraud”. Shame on Mark Noah!

[@chryssoraidy9838]

@@billcooper6620 If such a thing would have been allegedly said about my father, I'd say the same. But the reality is that neither you nor I directly witnessed the trouble you speak of. I know a little about it, and it appears to me as a situation that we should just keep to ourselves. No matter what you think about Mark (and it doesn't matter where he learned about the missing soldiers originally), it's not something that we honor either man, nor especially the heroes, serve anyone by expressing here. This video is about the very important cause, not the personal politics of passionate men.

[@pablotown77]

There are some other islands where unburied human remains can be found all over the place.

[@vaunfestus9768]

Like Little St. James Island

[@SteveM-ly7oy]

@@vaunfestus9768 I wonder if you are referring to Mr Epstein?? I had a look on Wikipedia, not the most reliable of sources I grant you, but all I read about was the alleged paedophile acts and ''orgies'' going on there...

[@bigbud8182]

There is a Netflix documentary on Jeffrey Epstein and there is one episode that goes into detail of what went on at that island. And unfortunately, it’s extremely disturbing and unbelievable

[@crxdelsolsir]

Not finding a person after the War is one thing, Bull dozing a known resting site and losing the people that way is disgusting and deserves justice.

[@kpd3308]

“A lot has happened” except for the glaring exception of the government looking for our lost servicemen. The government was perfectly willing to throw them into the meat grinder but can’t be bothered with treating their remains with the respect due them. Inexcusable.

[@garylawless3608]

I have never been in a conflict, or indeed in military service, but even I find this situation to be inexcusable and appalling. For Howard Brisbane’s remaining family, and any other soldier’s family, to find out that their loved one was forgotten like this, must be heartbreaking. I understand that in the heat of wartime action mistakes are made, but shame on those who’s job it was post conflict to account for every man. Rest easy now Howard, you did your job, and you are finally home.

[@bruceanderson6180]

That is so sad, they gave there lives, so that others could live in peace, and they are treated in such a way, shame on that government.

[@tomjones2202]

Roughly 73,000 are still missing from WW 2 alone....I had NO idea. I'm glad there are those who are working to find and bring home our lost but not forgotten.

[@jolu7019]

As of today there are still currently 73,057 unaccounted for service member who perished during the war. R.I.P.

[@sladeb6036]

God bless all those amazing men You will never be forgotten

[@oe57-_-51]

Love from the uk to every us solider who died on the front line

[@edwinsalau150]

Welcome home Doc! Rest in peace! Semper Fi!

[@semperfi7547]

Rest in peace all of them

[@leeneale8776]

I'm shocked!....i truly am....and saddened. :( Bring these boys home for pete's sake!!!.....these boys split their guts for their country!, no lack of money should be an excuse.

[@idleonlooker1078]

@emosh73 If Japan wishes to forget about it's war dead, then that is their decision. The US is purely concerned with recovering their fallen countrymen and women. Maybe Japan's decision to forget is based partly upon their national conscience of guilt for the widespread and documented atrocities their armed services committed during WWII?

[@idleonlooker1078]

@emosh73 OMG you're so naive!! Of course those buried at sea cannot be recovered, or those vaporised BUT, until efforts to recover those missing on land are tried, the fact whether they're remains are recoverable or not isn't then known, hey? For the surviving relatives and family of those missing soldiers, this is a very important issue to them in finding closure - and it's to America's great credit, in this particular, that they actually DO give a damn to search for their service personnel.

[@idleonlooker1078]

@emosh73 Its called finding closure for the living relatives, and that is just as noble a pursuit as is helping the underprivileged and homeless. In a "fucked up world" as you put it, isn't this a step in the right direction - out of that mess - for mankind? Think about it. Germans and Japanese are reluctant to discuss WWII due to the national shame from their respective documented crimes against humanity, so its not surprising that they want to forget and "whitewash" their complicity from their histories!! But the main reason why we're having this discussion is exactly because of what you admitted: your naivety!! 👍

[@badmonkey2222]

@emosh73 your a complete moron and definately naive, the Germans actually still to this day along with private donations and help are still trying to locate the war dead from ww2 same with the Russians, the Japanese who knows what the're reason is to forget but i would suspect is to not glorify is brutal regime of that time, thing is, the US government makes a promise to every man or woman for that matter sent off to war, and that is we will not leave you behind, and that means allot to someone who's going into harms way in some far off land wondering if you will ever go home. You said you're so worried about the starving children and the environment, what have you done about that? What have you done for starving children?, do you donate, do you give money? We Americans care about our fallen heroes, until every last one that can be found is found, we will never stop looking for them. 🇺🇸

[@rjkeenan8955]

The United States Marines and Corpsmen that fought in the Pacific are the greatest men that ever walked the face of this earth.

[@mmoffenbier]

My pop was in 1st Marines starting at Guadalcanal and all the way till it was over.

[@waltertaffs1737]

It's ashamed that we as veterans will not tolerate this for a minute .bring our love ones home for proper burial.. All heroes deserve this

[@johnemerson1363]

None of you have any idea what a graves registration unit does. When you find out, then answer the question.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

My grandmothers brother Erich Weudermann was a U-boat commander and he disappeared off the coast of Spain. I'm United States Navy and I think about him every day.

[@fishyc150]

Born on 15 Jan 1914 in Hamburg. Crew 33. Kapitänleutnant (1 Nov 1940) Knights Cross winner (14 Mar 1943) Died on 12 Jul 1943, North Atlantic near Spain. Commands: U-506 uboat.net/boats/u506.htm

[@fishyc150]

uboat.net/men/wuerdemann.htm

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

@@fishyc150 yup, that's him. U-506, hmm, thanks a lot for this bud, I never knew which boat he was on!

[@fishyc150]

@@freddymarcel-marcum6831 one of the "successful" commanders. Would be an ace if he flew planes! Knights cross winner... brave lad. Horrible way to go though I'm sure, though there were survivors (which for a u boat is rare really) so he possibly "went down with his ship"...

[@fishyc150]

@@freddymarcel-marcum6831 Gets better... www.warhats.com/ww2-u-boat-hat-u-506.html#/ You can actually buy a reproduction of his hat!!!

[@bigindian5555]

My heart and condolences go out to these people, to find out where their family was found was like getting spat on in the face, I hope all the Fallen Heroes are finally Resting In Peace

[@valerieclark4580]

I am glad to know many groups are working to recover our men. I hope at a later date I can hear the people talk, the volume was only a murmur.

[@huechang7101]

There is no greater sacrifice than to lay down one's life for their country. No one has any RIGHT to disrespect fallen soldiers' remains by forgetting them.

[@kman-mi7su]

Sad story, but keep in mind that was war. In war records get destroyed, lost, etc. Real estate on Tarawa was at a premium since it was a very small island. I'm sure that isn't the first instance they had to relocate or build over graves and other things during the war. Heck those who buried them during the war and would remember during the war may not have even survived the war themselves.

[@kman-mi7su]

@ensitu Well said entitlement and self-centered society today coupled with ignorance of history is a bad mix.

[@chumccurry1765]

Keith Schick It was explained clear at 3:00, the military know that they were buried there, and the military need that piece of land as parking lot. In result, all of them became MIA.

[@scottouellette9411]

My god what have we become

[@danor6812]

My uncle died on Tarawa. He was a US Marine. His body was the first brought back after the war to Milwaukee WI. At the time it was the biggest funeral in the states history. All because he was the first.

[@stevenfairless4931]

It's a great country that brings fallen and lost soldiers home ... lost or missing in action, vaporized, buried at sea, turned to ashes ... to find and recover fallen family members is a good work these people are doing.

[@Foxhound1Nine]

How bloody disgraceful, to send your loved ones off to fight an enemy only to have their remains treated with so much disrespect later on by the locals. Breaks my heart, i'm not American but from an ex serving Australian, Semper Fi brothers.

[@myohmy839]

The LOCALS??? The ones who where born and LIVED there? The ones who's homes where bombed to hell??

[@cjillaalaphadog6382]

@@myohmy839 As you can see in the photos, alot of the island used to be very remote. Over time people have had kids of course and maybe some people even moved there. The issue is if your a local and its COMMON KNOWLEDGE of the history of the island and you know when your building your house you come across a few skeletons with artifacts, You just dont be an idiot and throw them in a effing rice bag in the river. You would have to really not only have common sense but not give a flying eff if you did something as retarded as that.

[@groll7957]

They lost the location of the cemetery after the battle in 1946 they went back to the islands where the guys were fighting they found most of them but they didn’t have the technology

[@BillBird2111]

They did their level best to bring everyone home. I would agree with you on this. Unfortunately, sometimes soldiers were just buried where they fell in the heat of battle and records of those burials were not kept. Many times the men who did the digging and buried the body were then killed later on in the battle. Tarawa was brutal. The fact that American soldiers got left behind does not surprise me in the slightest. To place blame upon anyone for this oversight is shortsighted. But, the moment they are found, they should be brought home.

[@johnedwards1685]

Tarawa. The name gives me chills and I have no link to the atoll. I think anyone who has seen the series The World at War episode 23 “Pacific” will feel the same. Laurence Olivier’s calm and measured narration counterpoints appalling horror on that island. I’m so glad they found those young men. I’m so glad they’ll get a decent place to rest, amongst their friends.

[@danyerdon8494]

Thank you for this.

[@chuenyeelau]

Broken tools have always been discarded and forgotten. No different then and no different now. Sad but just a reality of war.

[@DJ-xo4jg]

You have people buried by there buddy who was then killed, people buried in a rush, people that couldn't be identified for a number of reasons, and many more other circumstances. And there all over the world. You can't just dig up a country looking for lost Soldiers. They do there best but people get lost. Especially after something like ww1 and ww2, even Vietnam. They find them when they can or by chance and there taken care of. That's a lot more than other countries do. It's a risk that you take in war.

[@johnzeszutko5661]

Welcome back home Howard and my belated thanks.

[@jamesmurray9724]

we live in a free society because of these brave men r.i.p they gave everything for our freedom .

[@andyginterblues2961]

My uncle Frank's remains were discovered, along with others, on a mountain in Borneo, by natives who were hunting for birds. If you are interested in the recovery and identification of soldier's remains, read the book "A Missing Plane", by Susan Sheehan. The book goes into detail about the army's forensics unit and how they identify long- lost remains.

[@denniscoleman8802]

As a grateful American I am thankful for your Uncle’s service and all the veterans ❤️🇺🇸 And grateful that this nation never forgets the MIA’s

[@animula6908]

I’m glad they found and identified him. The lady be good book also talks about the lengths they go to trying to locate and bring home the fallen, or at least learn as much as possible of their fates where that’s not possible

[@edwarddacanay2266]

Ĺ.0ĺ0.0.mmmmmmmkmkmmmmmkm

[@edwarddacanay2266]

@@animula6908 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@None-zc5vg]

If the Navy had thoroughly shelled the island as the Marines asked it to, then Harold & co. might have had a better chance of coming back alive.

[@RubberDucky999]

There was always another island to die on.

[@christophermcdonald2483]

Men in holes are hard to hit......

[@james8156]

Rest easy now brave warriors❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸. I thank you for your service and allowing not only me but all of us Americans to be free and live our lives in peace❤️❤️❤️

[@timmo491]

Never leave them behind. We always get back to them in the end. Respect and all the best from England.

[@jessedepriest8082]

I know this is an old post but, calling a Navy Corpsman a medic is technically incorrect and to some, disrespectful.

[@fritzvonhammer3578]

Totally agree. I was coming to correct him till I saw your post. Oorah

[@CallsItLikeISeizeIts]

And they are the medic to the USN/USMC, same thing different term. No one cares what ya called when they need you

[@xvsj5833]

The world is not perfect, the point is they found these missing Marines. Now Welcome them home🇺🇸

[@jamesschrang3712]

AMEN!!!

[@xvsj5833]

ATITKD .... Correction made Thxs

[@terryezzell7376]

My father turned 21 years old on Tarawa as a US Marine. He had a mortar squad but the sand was so soft, the first round went straight up and almost came back on top of them. It was M1 Garands only after that

[@SteveM-ly7oy]

I am not American but I like the way those servicemen and women even today give a full military burial with honours and do their job properly. I think the family, indeed all families appreciate the solemnity with which such a ceremony is conducted, even now, many many years after the Second World War has ended. Keep on looking, never give up, find as many bodies of the fallen as possible.

[@godzilladestroyer5552]

It's sad that everyone is forgetting about our troops, I tried going to a cemetery where a bunch of civil war vets were, and all it was, was a bunch of broken graves and too much grass

[@Remaagen]

Something wrong with the volume???????

[@timarcher7933]

Worked for the CWGC in the UK . Pilot was found in his hurricane in the pavement in Winchester UK .His sister had been putting flowers on his grave in Nottingham since the war.Her Question was Who,s grave had she been putting flowers on. There was even an eye witness account printed in the newspaper of how the pilot had stayed at the controls of his aircraft to miss crashing into houses.

[@alanmoul8655]

Was very impressed with the spokeswoman for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Well spoken and honest.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

why does it take millions and millions of dollars to do thousands of dollars of work? Where does the taxpayers dollars go? [edit] How about offering a bounty of $10,000 for each set of bones found, and $25k if it's confirmed American. Just watch the bodies get repatriated over night. Of course you'd need a few field experts to verify the results, but the expense would be a fraction of that $131,000,000.00

[@shable1436]

Take a industrial guess

[@andrewspoon1984]

All governments piss away taxpayers money (*****)

[@albertmata724]

its not about you ..... or you Money Politics ...... you Keep Quit

[@eljustino1493]

Management

[@marvinthiessen3454]

Layers and layers of Federal career bureaucrats, paper shufflers and pencil pushers.

[@DoACarl]

Welcome home Howard Pascal Brisbane! RIP

[@alexlanning712]

Thanks for telling us, this moving tale

[@jmmck2361]

Tarawa was my fathers baptism of fire. He had turned 19 the month prior to this battle. He is seen in the combat footage running across the beach from left to right in front of the camera with other marines and he is carrying his entrenching tool (shovel). He had to wade into shore as well, bobbing up for air and crawling under water at times. He came across other marines that had been killed in the water. I can imagine perhaps some of those never washed up on shore and maybe floated out to sea?

[@jenniferlarson6426]

The fighting for those islands was brutal. If there was no one to keep accurate records of who was buried and where, unfortunately, that is how the deceased get forgotten about. Apparently, there was no one to take the initiative of identifying and recording where they were buried. It's a very sad situation of war. However, they were found and it's good to know that they were given a proper burial.

[@louiswarmoth7354]

Happens in every war...even in the Continental US. I participated in the recovery of Confederate remains buried during the war in a designated cemetery which was later turned into a parking lot and a university football stadium. Sad...yes, but it happens.

[@raymartin9091]

Thank God for our precious veterans. Alive or deceased.

[@raynonabohrer5624]

How sad. God bless those families!

[@TrikeRoadPoet]

The government always lets the veteran down, it is simply because we are the expendable, the less then important, the oft forgotten, just look at what the VA does to vets, who they were to help. Nowadays we hear, "thanks for your service" but we know we will never hear" sorry for what we did (or didn't) do to you, or for you" We were the unready, doing the oft unnecessary, for the ungrateful and uncaring. That is reality of a lot of vets.

[@eaglehill6171]

My Dad fought on this Island

[@heavenbound1536]

My Dad did too ......May the blessings of GOD be with you

[@egv5986]

Respect for the Marines. Respect for History Flight. Shame on the authorities that were responsible for the way the bodies of these heroes were treated.

[@Iann0400]

Good report, funding and the reality of a brutal war. Let’s hope this generates more interest and funding for all our lost veterans and bring closure for families and friends. RIP Howard.

[@anthonyb27]

This should have been taken care of right after the battle, or at least right after the war...so sad!

[@heavenbound1536]

Anthony the battle went on for over 3 days my father only spoke of this a few times about the heat and stench of the dead and body parts strewn all over and after the battle gathering the body parts and dog tags

[@anthonyb27]

@@heavenbound1536 God bless your father. It's good to know at least some effort was made.

[@nadzach]

I saw the documentary of the previous mission to Tarawa. I can't find it now, but these heroes were not forgotten. With the hurricanes and waves that wash over that little island, I thought the graves had been washed away. Maybe the surfacing of the parking lot preserved the graves?

[@huibertlandzaat1889]

You made a very interesting video. Thank you for uploading.

[@Marine0326]

As a Retired Marine i am completely without words. From day one of Marine Corps Bootcamp at Parris Island you are told constantly over and over again that you NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND, you are told that the Marine to your left and to your right are your Brothers. When i first heard about this i was stunned taken aback by the fact that these Marines and Sailors were left behind, but when i heard that their families had been lied to about the actual accountability of their loved ones remains i was absolutely appalled. I find it to be completely unacceptable that the Higher Command after Tarawa was secured neglected to carry out their sworn duty to make sure that every Marine and Sailor alive, dead or wounded that were under their Command were accounted for. Marines live by an etho with one of the main parts being THAT WE NEVER LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND also another main part is THAT MARINES DON'T LIE. I was at the time and still am to this day Appalled by the actions..........or should i say Lack of Actions by the Entire Command Element. Their complete and absolute disregard for the Accountability of everyone of the Marines and Sailors under their command is a GREAT DISHONOR TO THE CORPS. That is all i have to say!!!!!!!

[@stevenkelly2477]

Jesse James and you actually believed them? They are searching and recovering some of them now.