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Gillis, Basil Joseph

Date of birth:
June 26th, 1925
Date of death:
November 21st, 1943 (Tarawa, Gilbert Islands)
Buried on:
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Service number:
487635
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

His name is engraved on the 'Wall of the Missing' at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu/Hawaii, United States.
Although Basil Joseph Gillis is known as missing in action, with us a photo from Tarawa is known with a grave, bearing his name.
Other sources mention his remains were transferred to the Cowles Memorial Cemetery in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Unknown is then why his name was added to the Tablets of the Missing. Unclear is if the grave in Ipswich is his actual grave or an empty memorial grave.

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Sources

  • Photo: WW2 grave: Jay M. Johnson (from Andy Johnson)
  • - Hammel, E. & Lane, J.E., Bloody Tarawa – The 2nd Marine Division, November 20-23, 1943, Zenith Press, St. Paul, USA, 2006
    - American Battle Monuments Commission

Photo