Born and raised in Fresno, California, Dwight Wade was the 5th of 10 children born to Lillian E (Oldfield) and John Lee Randall. Dwight had two older brothers and sisters (Walter, John, Reba and Bessie) and 5 younger siblings (Stacey, Edythe, Erma Lee, Ebba Jean, and Richard).
Dwight enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 22 January 1942 in Los Angeles, California.
SGT Randall was with his brothers in the 2nd Amphibious Trac Battalion 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 Dwight - just 22 years old - perished.
SGT Randall 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.
He will be laid to rest on the 75th Anniversary of the day he perished on Tarawa – November 20, 2018 next to his family in the Belmont Memorial Park in Fresno, California with full military honors.
Welcome home, and rest in peace, SGT Randall.
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