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Battle of Tarawa commemorated after 65 years

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:58 pm
by 308Mike
Linkarooni
Battle of Tarawa commemorated after 65 years

By Audrey McAvoy - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 20, 2008 6:45:50 EST

TARAWA, Kiribati — Master Sgt. James M. Fawcett got on his knees and gently mixed his father’s ashes with sand on the same Pacific beach where the elder Fawcett fought his way ashore 65 years ago.

Maj. James L. Fawcett died in September at the age of 89. He wanted his ashes taken to the spot where half of his 50-man platoon was killed during the first two hours of the Battle of Tarawa, one of World War II’s most brutal battles.

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