World War II Honoree

John Kenneth Hildebrand

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tucson, Arizona

Honored By

James L. Hildebrand

Relationship

Nephew

PHARMACIST'S MATE 1ST CLASS. U.S. NAVY CORPSMAN ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST BATTALION, 6TH MARINE REGIMENT, 2ND MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE. KNOWN TO HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS 'KEN'. ENLISTED AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT ACTION AGAINST JAPANESE FORCES ON GUADALCANAL FROM JANUARY 12, 1943 TO FEBRUARY 8, 1943. HE HAD JUST CELEBRATED HIS 20TH BIRTHDAY, 2 DAYS BEFORE HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE TARAWA INVASION. AT ABOUT 1800 HOURS ON THE EVENING OF SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1943, HE WAS RIDING IN LVT-1 LANDING CRAFT THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF GREEN BEACH, BETIO ISLAND, TARAWA ATOLL, BRITISH GILBERT ISLANDS. THE LVT-1 STRUCK A JAPANESE BOAT-MINE OFF SHORE, WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE POWERFUL EXPLOSION. ALL OF THE 10 OR MORE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN ONBOARD WERE KILLED, EXCEPT FOR 1 ENLISTED MAN WHO SUFFERED A SEVERE LEG INJURY.