A Pensylvania Marine who fought in Tarawa and gave his life in World War II will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
He was officially accounted for on October 6 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency after being discovered in July.
In November 1943, McNichol was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, but the Japanese were virtually annihilated. McNichol died on the second day of the battle, Nov. 21, 1943.
Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.
DPAA is grateful to History Flight, Inc. for their partnership in this mission.
McNichol’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the NCMP, an American Battle Monuments Commission cemetery, along with the others killed or lost in WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
