In a heartwarming moment of closure over 80 years in the making, Marine Corps Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck, a young man from Chicago who gave his life during World War II, has finally been identified and is coming home.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced in a January 2 press release that Sgt. Van Heck’s remains were identified in April 2023. His family, however, was only recently fully briefed on the discovery.
Van Heck’s story is one of bravery, sacrifice, and the enduring mission to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Here’s more about him and the eight-long decades of waiting to bring him back.
Who Was Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck?
Born and raised in Chicago, Sgt. Van Heck was just 25 years old when he joined the Marines during one of the most turbulent periods in modern history.
He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force—a unit that would find itself in the thick of one of World War II’s most brutal battles.
Described as dedicated and fearless, Van Heck served as an amphibian tractor crewman, operating vehicles designed to transport troops onto heavily defended enemy shores.
In his final letter home, Van Heck wrote to his family with a somber but resolute tone, saying:
“Don’t count on me coming home this spring as we had planned.”
In a heartwarming moment of closure over 80 years in the making, Marine Corps Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck, a young man from Chicago who gave his life during World War II, has finally been identified and is coming home.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced in a January 2 press release that Sgt. Van Heck’s remains were identified in April 2023. His family, however, was only recently fully briefed on the discovery.
Van Heck’s story is one of bravery, sacrifice, and the enduring mission to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Here’s more about him and the eight-long decades of waiting to bring him back.
Who Was Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck?
Born and raised in Chicago, Sgt. Van Heck was just 25 years old when he joined the Marines during one of the most turbulent periods in modern history.
He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force—a unit that would find itself in the thick of one of World War II’s most brutal battles.
Described as dedicated and fearless, Van Heck served as an amphibian tractor crewman, operating vehicles designed to transport troops onto heavily defended enemy shores.
In his final letter home, Van Heck wrote to his family with a somber but resolute tone, saying:
“Don’t count on me coming home this spring as we had planned.”
Just days later, his family received news of his death, marking a heart-wrenching end to their hopes of his safe return.
The Battle of Tarawa: A Scene of Valor and Sacrifice
Sgt. Van Heck lost his life on November 20, 1943, the first day of the Battle of Tarawa.
This small atoll in the Gilbert Islands became a fierce and bloody battlefield as American forces launched an amphibious assault against well-entrenched Japanese defenders.
Over the course of several days, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed, with another 2,000 wounded.
Despite these heavy losses, the Japanese forces were nearly annihilated, marking a strategic victory for the Allies.
Van Heck’s vehicle, an LVT-1 (amphibious landing vehicle) nicknamed “Wabbit Twacks” and painted with the number “13 ½” to ward off bad luck, carried him into the fight.
Tragically, like many of his comrades, he didn’t make it off the beach. His remains were initially marked in Cemetery 11 on the island but were lost in the chaos that followed the battle.
Many remains were consolidated and sent to Hawaii for analysis, but nearly half of the known casualties were never found. Those that couldn’t be identified were interred as “Unknowns” at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.
In 2017, the DPAA disinterred one such set of remains, designated “Tarawa Unknown X-265.”
Using advanced mitochondrial DNA analysis and anthropological techniques, they confirmed the remains as those of Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck in April 2023.
This breakthrough is part of the DPAA’s broader mission to identify and return fallen heroes to their families, ensuring that no one is left behind.
What This Means for His Family
For Van Heck’s family, this discovery is nothing short of monumental.
Imagine decades of unanswered questions, of wondering where your loved one might rest, finally coming to an end. Now, the family can lay him to rest with the honor he deserves.
Sgt. Van Heck will be buried in Hillside, Illinois, on January 7, 2025, just a short distance from where he grew up.
A rosette will also be placed next to his name on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl in Hawaii, a small but significant gesture indicating that he has been accounted for and brought home.
The Broader Mission of the DPAA
Sgt. Van Heck’s story is just one of many that highlight the DPAA’s vital work.
Since the 1970s, the agency has been tirelessly working to recover and identify remains of American servicemembers from conflicts around the world. To date, nearly 1,000 Americans killed during World War II have been identified and returned to their families.
However, the work is far from over—over 71,000 troops from the war are still unaccounted for.
Using craniofacial superimposition offers hope for some impossible DPAA cases. Dr. Carl Stephan, University of Queensland, recently collaborated with our Hawaii lab. The analysis made matches that may lead to IDs. Learn more 👉 https://t.co/ZSTslF3Kgfpic.twitter.com/CapxU8eHw2
— Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) (@dodpaa) November 22, 2024
Efforts like these serve as a reminder of the enduring commitment to honor those who served. It’s about more than just recovering remains; it’s about preserving their legacies and giving families the closure they deserve. Each identification is a testament to the belief that no one who fought for our freedom should ever be forgotten.
A Hero’s Final Journey Home
Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck’s story is one of courage, sacrifice, and, ultimately, hope. His return is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the enduring mission to ensure that those who gave everything are never left behind.
As his family gathers to say their final goodbyes, we can all take a moment to honor not just Van Heck, but all the servicemembers who have fought—and continue to fight—for the values we hold dear.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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