On June 9, 2017, Navy Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Howard P. Brisbane, 21, killed in World War II, was finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Born December 26, 1921, Howard was the 2nd of three children blessed to the union of Albert Miles and Winnifred (nee Torgerson) Brisbane.
PHM3 Brisbane was with his brothers in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (HQ-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 Howard - just 21 years old - perished. He was 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, Howard's parents accepted his Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. Also left to mourn his passing were Howard's siblings; Margaret Hunt and Albert Miles Jr.
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they had discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. service members who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
On June 2, 2016, PHM3 Brisbane was accounted-for. To identify his remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a nephew; laboratory analysis, including dental and anthropological analysis, which matched Brisbane's records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Howard was finally returned to his family and, on June 9, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Navy Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Howard Pascal Brisbane is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PHM3 Brisbane's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 5 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has been placed next to his name to verify that Howard is no longer missing (56116314, a cenotaph).
SOURCE
DPAA Personnel Profile
DPAA Release No: 17-046 June 2, 2017
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Born December 26, 1921, Howard was the 2nd of three children blessed to the union of Albert Miles and Winnifred (nee Torgerson) Brisbane.
PHM3 Brisbane was with his brothers in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (HQ-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 Howard - just 21 years old - perished. He was 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, Howard's parents accepted his Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. Also left to mourn his passing were Howard's siblings; Margaret Hunt and Albert Miles Jr.
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they had discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. service members who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
On June 2, 2016, PHM3 Brisbane was accounted-for. To identify his remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a nephew; laboratory analysis, including dental and anthropological analysis, which matched Brisbane's records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Howard was finally returned to his family and, on June 9, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Navy Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Howard Pascal Brisbane is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PHM3 Brisbane's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 5 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has been placed next to his name to verify that Howard is no longer missing (56116314, a cenotaph).
SOURCE
DPAA Personnel Profile
DPAA Release No: 17-046 June 2, 2017
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
On June 9, 2017, Navy Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Howard P. Brisbane, 21, killed in World War II, was finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Born December 26, 1921, Howard was the 2nd of three children blessed to the union of Albert Miles and Winnifred (nee Torgerson) Brisbane.
PHM3 Brisbane was with his brothers in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (HQ-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 Howard - just 21 years old - perished. He was 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, Howard's parents accepted his Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. Also left to mourn his passing were Howard's siblings; Margaret Hunt and Albert Miles Jr.
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they had discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. service members who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
On June 2, 2016, PHM3 Brisbane was accounted-for. To identify his remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a nephew; laboratory analysis, including dental and anthropological analysis, which matched Brisbane's records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Howard was finally returned to his family and, on June 9, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Navy Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Howard Pascal Brisbane is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PHM3 Brisbane's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 5 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has been placed next to his name to verify that Howard is no longer missing (56116314, a cenotaph).
SOURCE
DPAA Personnel Profile
DPAA Release No: 17-046 June 2, 2017
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Born December 26, 1921, Howard was the 2nd of three children blessed to the union of Albert Miles and Winnifred (nee Torgerson) Brisbane.
PHM3 Brisbane was with his brothers in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (HQ-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 Howard - just 21 years old - perished. He was 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, Howard's parents accepted his Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. Also left to mourn his passing were Howard's siblings; Margaret Hunt and Albert Miles Jr.
In June 2015, History Flight notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they had discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were 35 U.S. service members who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
On June 2, 2016, PHM3 Brisbane was accounted-for. To identify his remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a nephew; laboratory analysis, including dental and anthropological analysis, which matched Brisbane's records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Howard was finally returned to his family and, on June 9, 2017, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Navy Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Howard Pascal Brisbane is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PHM3 Brisbane's name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 5 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette has been placed next to his name to verify that Howard is no longer missing (56116314, a cenotaph).
SOURCE
DPAA Personnel Profile
DPAA Release No: 17-046 June 2, 2017
American Battle Monuments Commission
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Inscription
HOWARD / PASCAL / BRISBANE
PHM3 / US NAVY / WORLD WAR II
DEC 26 1921 / NOV 20 1943
PURPLE HEART
