The remains of Marine Corp Reserve Private First Class Jack B. Van Zandt were escorted back into Danville (today 12/13). Danville Police and Firefighters id the honors. Private Van Zandt was killed at 22-years of age. The Pfc. will be buried reinterred at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville. Full military honors are planned for Tuesday, December 17, 2019.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that the remains of Pfc. Van Zandt had been identified last month. Van Zandt was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The unit met stiff Japanese resistance when it landed on the small island of Betio during World War II. The landing was an attempt to secure the island in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands.

Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 others were wounded. Pfc. Van Zandt was killed on the third day of the battle.

94.1 WGFA