Remains of Robert J. Hatch Will Return to Utah, 76 Years Later

From the Nov. 1, 2019, Salt Lake City Tribune  "Remains of Utah Marine killed in World War II  will return home for burial" by Paighten Harkins.

Robert J. Hatch was just 21 when he was killed alongside 1,000 other service members on the small island of Betio in the Pacific against stubborn Japanese defense.  He made it through three days of fighting before being killed November 22, 1943.

He was buried either alone or in a cemetery on the island.  The military attempted to find his body in 1946, but couldn't.  Three years later, his remains were declared "non-recoverable."

Thanks to advanced technology and a nonprofit group called History Flight, this December, the Woods Cross native's remains are returning to Utah.  The group has been scouring Betio for remains and in March discovered Mr. Hatch's remains in a previously unknown burial trench in the cemetery.

His burial is set for December 14 in Bountiful.

--GreGen