I was a US Mavy,CM/3c (207-51-55) stationed on Makin Is, Navy 810, in 1945. Sometime in late 1945 or early 1946 we were order to dig up the remains of ten military men from a grave site and transfer them to the main burial grounds. After the remains were dug up, they were placeed in my workshop until a medical team could come to Makin and identfy each man. After the identity was made I made crosses with names and the remains were reburied in the main burial grounds.There was some speculation as to the reason these particular men had not have been originaly in the main burial ground ;howerver these facts never surface officially.If I can help to elaborate on this message further please contact me.

There were 9 or 10 men that tried to swim out to the ship when the raiders left the island ,they were hanging on to the sides of the boat and the boat could not get past the surf line so these brave marines said for the men in the boat to go ahead that they would
swim out to the ship,they were never seen again.