Nearly 80 years after his death in service to the United States, Marine Corps Private Glenn White has now reached his final resting place.
White was laid to rest Saturday morning at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia after two days worth of ceremonies and special honors as part of repatriation efforts. White served in World War II as a member of Company A, First Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, that landed in the Gilbert Islands in November 1943 and encountered intense resistance from the Japanese.
He was among 1,000 Marines and Navy sailors who were killed on the island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll in November of 1943. His remains were found by the non-profit organization History Flight after they uncovered a burial site believed to be Cemetery 33 — where White was initially listed as buried — back in 2009.
History Flight and the Department of Defense’s Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Accounting Agency identified White’s remains using dental and anthropological analysis, circumstantial and material evidence, mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA analysis.
White’s first cousin Don Stair, who grew up as a sibling to White, says the information they received tells them that White fought until the very end of his life. Stair says it was not surprising to hear this as that was the kind of person he was.
White’s oldest nephew Frank White says he is thankful for the community support the family has received since his uncle’s remains were found. He only wishes some other members of their family were still here to see him come home.
Lynette Stair, White’s great-niece, recalls memories of her great-grandmother from her childhood that demonstrated her unwavering love and adoration of her Glenn’s memory.
The United States Marine Corps Repatriation Program is “the liaison between the Marine Corps, US Government and the next of kin of all Marines unaccounted for from previous conflicts.” When an unaccounted-for Marine is recovered and identified the Marine Corps Casualty Repatriation Section is notified and helps to coordinate the presentation and delivery of information to the Marine’s primary next of kin.
The day’s ceremony saw hundreds fill the cemetery and funeral procession route to pay their respects to Private White’s memory and his service to the United States.
Video from Saturday’s ceremony and processional can be found on Facebook @KVOENews.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon and Chuck Samples/KVOE News
