CORPORAL MASON O. YARBROUGH, USMC

One of 900 elite U.S. Marines selected from 15,000 volunteers to become one of "Carlson's Raiders" in February 1942. A Missouri native, born 16 August, 1922, Yarbrough enlisted in the Marine Corps 7 June, 1941. He trained with Carlson at Camp Elliot, California where he became one of the first "GUNG HO!" Marines. When Carlson's 2d Raiders Battalion went ashore on Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands 17 August, 1942, Yarbrough was among 19 Marines to fall to Japanese defensive fire. When the Raiders withdrew to continue their South Pacific mission, Carlson paid natives to bury the fallen Marines. Their bodies were repatriated in December 1999, and Corporal Yarbrough was finally laid to rest with full military honors in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sikeston, Missouri 15 December, 2000.

The Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line Islands are officialy the Republic of Kiribati today.