On October 18, 2017, Marine Corps CPL Walter George Critchley, 24, killed in World War II, was finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Born November 10, 1919, in New Rochelle, New York, Walter was the younger of two and only son blessed to the union of English immigrants, George & Alice Rebekah (nee Shaw) Critchley. He was Dorothy Elizabeth (Critchley) Emerson's baby brother..
Corporal Critchley was with his brothers in Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (F-2/8) 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 20, 1943 (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Walter - just 24 years old - perished.
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, Walter's family accepted the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation.
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
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 CPL Critchley's remains were not recovered. On February 10, 1949, a military review board declared Walter "non-recoverable".
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
In 2016, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of CPL Critchley and put Rita Placek in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, establishing lines for future communication regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts surrounding her cousin Walter.
On January 6, 2017, the DPAA announced that they had identified CPL Critchley. To identify Critchley's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons and anthropological analysis, which matched Critchley's records.
Walter George Critchley was finally returned to his family and, on October 18, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Corporal Walter George Critchley is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although CPL Critchley has now been recovered and identified, his name shall remain permanently inscribed among Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing" (56127917, a cenotaph). A rosette has been placed next to his name to indicate Walter is no longer missing.
SOURCE
DPAA Release No: 17-118 (Oct. 11, 2017)
DPAA: Recent News & Stories (Jan 6, 2017)
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), History Flight and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Born November 10, 1919, in New Rochelle, New York, Walter was the younger of two and only son blessed to the union of English immigrants, George & Alice Rebekah (nee Shaw) Critchley. He was Dorothy Elizabeth (Critchley) Emerson's baby brother..
Corporal Critchley was with his brothers in Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (F-2/8) 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 20, 1943 (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Walter - just 24 years old - perished.
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, Walter's family accepted the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation.
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
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 CPL Critchley's remains were not recovered. On February 10, 1949, a military review board declared Walter "non-recoverable".
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
In 2016, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of CPL Critchley and put Rita Placek in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, establishing lines for future communication regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts surrounding her cousin Walter.
On January 6, 2017, the DPAA announced that they had identified CPL Critchley. To identify Critchley's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons and anthropological analysis, which matched Critchley's records.
Walter George Critchley was finally returned to his family and, on October 18, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Corporal Walter George Critchley is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although CPL Critchley has now been recovered and identified, his name shall remain permanently inscribed among Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing" (56127917, a cenotaph). A rosette has been placed next to his name to indicate Walter is no longer missing.
SOURCE
DPAA Release No: 17-118 (Oct. 11, 2017)
DPAA: Recent News & Stories (Jan 6, 2017)
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), History Flight and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
On October 18, 2017, Marine Corps CPL Walter George Critchley, 24, killed in World War II, was finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Born November 10, 1919, in New Rochelle, New York, Walter was the younger of two and only son blessed to the union of English immigrants, George & Alice Rebekah (nee Shaw) Critchley. He was Dorothy Elizabeth (Critchley) Emerson's baby brother..
Corporal Critchley was with his brothers in Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (F-2/8) 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 20, 1943 (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Walter - just 24 years old - perished.
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, Walter's family accepted the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation.
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
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 CPL Critchley's remains were not recovered. On February 10, 1949, a military review board declared Walter "non-recoverable".
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
In 2016, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of CPL Critchley and put Rita Placek in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, establishing lines for future communication regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts surrounding her cousin Walter.
On January 6, 2017, the DPAA announced that they had identified CPL Critchley. To identify Critchley's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons and anthropological analysis, which matched Critchley's records.
Walter George Critchley was finally returned to his family and, on October 18, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Corporal Walter George Critchley is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although CPL Critchley has now been recovered and identified, his name shall remain permanently inscribed among Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing" (56127917, a cenotaph). A rosette has been placed next to his name to indicate Walter is no longer missing.
SOURCE
DPAA Release No: 17-118 (Oct. 11, 2017)
DPAA: Recent News & Stories (Jan 6, 2017)
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), History Flight and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Born November 10, 1919, in New Rochelle, New York, Walter was the younger of two and only son blessed to the union of English immigrants, George & Alice Rebekah (nee Shaw) Critchley. He was Dorothy Elizabeth (Critchley) Emerson's baby brother..
Corporal Critchley was with his brothers in Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marines (F-2/8) 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 20, 1943 (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Walter - just 24 years old - perished.
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, Walter's family accepted the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation.
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
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 CPL Critchley's remains were not recovered. On February 10, 1949, a military review board declared Walter "non-recoverable".
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
In 2016, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of CPL Critchley and put Rita Placek in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section, establishing lines for future communication regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts surrounding her cousin Walter.
On January 6, 2017, the DPAA announced that they had identified CPL Critchley. To identify Critchley's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons and anthropological analysis, which matched Critchley's records.
Walter George Critchley was finally returned to his family and, on October 18, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Marine Corps Corporal Walter George Critchley is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although CPL Critchley has now been recovered and identified, his name shall remain permanently inscribed among Court 2 of the "Courts of the Missing" (56127917, a cenotaph). A rosette has been placed next to his name to indicate Walter is no longer missing.
SOURCE
DPAA Release No: 17-118 (Oct. 11, 2017)
DPAA: Recent News & Stories (Jan 6, 2017)
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), History Flight and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Inscription
WALTER / GEORGE / CRITCHLEY
CPL / US MARINE CORPS / WORLD WAR II
NOV 10 1919 / NOV 20 1943
PURPLE HEART
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