robinb Posted December 2, 2022 Share #1 Posted December 2, 2022 My best Purple Heart is one that I got directly from the family back in 1988. At the time his sister told me that he was KIA on Makin, but that didn't mean anything to me at the time. Soon after getting home with it I discovered just what that meant! He was on the 1942 Makin Raid, and after some research (pre internet days) I found that he was killed during the raid; not one of the 9 who were left behind to be later executed by the Japanese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #2 Posted December 2, 2022 THAT is an historic medal! Do you know if his body was recovered or lost when burial locations were bulldozed into the ocean post war? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted December 2, 2022 That I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #4 Posted December 2, 2022 I'll take a look and see what I can find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share #5 Posted December 2, 2022 Thanks. I really haven't done any more research since the 1990s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #6 Posted December 2, 2022 Looks like his mother lived in California. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #7 Posted December 2, 2022 Just now, The Scarlet Pimpernel said: Looks like his mother lived in California. So he is still listed as MIA. Most likely lost in the surf or was buried on the island. The location was later bulldozed to enlarge the airfield and facilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share #8 Posted December 2, 2022 I just found an article staying that he was recovered in 1999. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share #9 Posted December 2, 2022 He was from Lafayette, Ca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #10 Posted December 2, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #11 Posted December 2, 2022 I'll take a look and see what I can find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #12 Posted December 2, 2022 There are several other muster rolls available for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share #13 Posted December 2, 2022 This is amazing. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #14 Posted December 2, 2022 Interesting. You know how it's been said that things happen in threes. 1. There was a Makin Raider group sold off eBay several weeks ago. 2 . There was another Makin Raider group sold recently. 3. From what I've been told by a well connected person I know, there is a very significant MIA/KIA grouping coming out very soon. Better break into your piggy banks, get a second mortgage or rob a bank, as it will be pretty big dough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted December 2, 2022 Share #15 Posted December 2, 2022 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56118782/robert-brooks-pearson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted December 2, 2022 Share #16 Posted December 2, 2022 That is a great USMC Heart! Very historic and desirable and probably one of the most sought after of all USMC WWII KIA Purple Hearts! Congrats, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzeen1 Posted December 19, 2022 Share #17 Posted December 19, 2022 Nice !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieGreer Posted April 10 Share #18 Posted April 10 He was recovered in 1999 among 18 other raiders on Makin. Only 2 raiders that were killed during the raid remain missing (aside from the nine POWs captured on the island after the raid), Pearson is buried at Arlington NatCem alongside 12 other raiders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMT04 Posted April 16 Share #19 Posted April 16 Very nice medal, so rare to have him identified so many years later. It’s so great that people still give their time to do that very important task. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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