Anthony Brozyna

Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Anthony was the 6th of 7 children born to Polish immigrants John and Teresa (Babula) Brozyna. Two days after his 21st birthday, Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at New River and went through training at Parris Island. PFC Brozyna was with his brothers in the 8th Marines (Golf/2) of the 2nd Marine Division, FMF when they landed on Betio. Their mission was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history. It was November 20th (D-Day for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Anthony - just 22 years old - perished. PFC Brozyna was among more than 1,000 Marines and Sailors killed during that battle, so many of which were declared non-recoverable after the war. Lost in foreign soil, this Marine was listed as Missing In Action for more than 70 years. In 2015, History Flight located and recovered Anthony's remains and turned them over to the DPAA; they also conducted genealogy research and provided the contact information necessary for the Marine Corps to reach out to the surviving family members. He will be laid to rest on August the 31st at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Welcome home, PFC Brozyna, and thank you.