Leatherneck returns home.

General Discussion FSM Ready Room
1

Pfc. John Saini died at Tarawa in November 1943, one of more than 1,000 US troops killed. He was buried in MC Cemetery 2 along with 42 other US troops on Betio Island, one of many dozens hastily cut after the battle.

In itself an interesting story, many of the cemeteries were poorly marked, or their locations were sketchy. They’ve been researched and discovered over the years, even as the islands gradually got covered by development.

History Flight has been carefully searching for them, in this case the cemetery was found in June 2015 by a cadaver search dog named “Buster”. Which is personal to me; my sister raises and trains them.

Saini was a kid from Sonoma wine country, who died at the age of 20 without direct descendants. His extended local family, who still grow grapes, never gave up. His sister, deceased, had given DNA to the search, which was used to identify Saini.

His remains were returned to San Francisco this week and he is being buried today in Healdsburg, next to his parents.

Probably this story will be posted on sfgate.com

2

We just had 30+ vietnam KIA repatriated to Australia. Until 1966, the government wouldnt pay for repatriation home, so most were buried in Malaysian cemetaries. Good to see all our fallen warriors come home where possible.

3

While it is heartening to see the fallen make it home, no matter which country they are from, in some cases I’m torn as to bring them home or let them remain in peace.

In some cases, especially in the Pacific and western Europe, even outside of the known cemetaries, the fallen are better remembered and taken care of than they would be at home. The people in those areas know what was given and honor it and appreciate it.

4

I recall a story of my sis-in-law’s aunt looking for answers to what happened to her brother during WW2. Long story short, she finally got an answer after 40 plus years, he had died in a glider accident during the war. My guess he is buried somewhere in Europe.