Captain Richard W. Vincent - Westfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 07.292 W 072° 46.016
18T E 684589 N 4665683
The grave of Captain Richard W. Vincent, who gave his life during the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands during World War II, is located in Pine Hill Cemetery, off of Western Avenue in Westfield, MA.
Waymark Code: WM164JE
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/04/2022
Views: 2
The grave of Captain Richard W. Vincent is marked by a granite family headstone which is inscribed:
VINCENT
IN MEMORY {USMC EMBLEM} OF OUR SON
RICHARD
1ST.LT. U.S.M.C.
JAN. 25, 1918 - NOV 20, 1943
GAVE HIS LIFE AT TARAWA
We live by deeds not years
The back of he monument is inscribed with the names of his deceased parents:
1887 WALTER B. 1950
1886 JENNIE C. 1946
The US Marines landed on the Japanese occupied Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands on November 20, 1943. A battle ensued that lasted until November 23, 1943. Over 1,000 US Marines were killed during the battle. One of those casualties was Lt. Richard Vincent. Initially he was missing in action and on January 26, 1944 he was declared killed in action and promoted posthumous to the rank of Captain. He body was discovered on October 21, 2014, and identified by DNA analysis, and returned to his hometown of Westfield, MA on July 1, 2015. On July 2, 2015 he was buried next to his parents at pre-existing monument at Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield, MA. Link
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