1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.
U.S. Marine Corps, 2nd Marine Division

Background
Alexander Bonnyman Jr. was born May 2, 1910 to parents Alexander Bonnyman Sr. and Frances Rhea Berry Bonnyman in Atlanta, Georgia. Nicknamed "“Sandy”". Bonnyman's family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. His father was the president of Knoxville's Blue Diamond Coal Company. He attended Princeton University where he studied engineering and played football. During his sophomore year, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and began flight training in June 1932 but washed out three months later. Afterwards, he worked in the coal industry then moved to New Mexico and started a copper mining business.

Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific War, Bonnyman was exempt from military obligation due to his age and because his company produced a vital material for the war effort. Regardless, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in Phoenix, AZ and underwent boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. In October 1942, Bonnyman embarked aboard SS Matsonia was went overseas to the South Pacific. As part of a pioneer unit he participated in combat on Guadalcanal. In February 1943, due to his leadership skills, he received a battlefield commission as an officer and the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

On November 20, 1943 during the U.S. landing on Tarawa (Betio) Bonnyman led a demolition team. While pinned down near Betio Pier, he led attacks that overcame enemy installations. The next day he led an assault on a bunker which contained approximately 150 Japanese soldiers. On November 22, 1943 while attacking enemy positions, he was mortally wounded and died. He was buried in a field burial on the island that was forgotten and lost.

Medal of Honor
Bonnyman earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously for his actions November 20–22, 1943. On January 22, 1947 Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal presented his daughter, Josephine Tina Bonnyman at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Posthumous Medal of Honor Citation (November 20–22, 1943) "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the 2d Battalion Shore Party, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, 20-22 November 1943. Acting on his own initiative when assault troops were pinned down at the far end of Betio Pier by the overwhelming fire of Japanese shore batteries, 1st Lt. Bonnyman repeatedly defied the blasting fury of the enemy bombardment to organize and lead the besieged men over the long, open pier to the beach and then, voluntarily obtaining flame throwers and demolitions, organized his pioneer shore party into assault demolitionists and directed the blowing of several hostile installations before the close of D-day. Determined to effect an opening in the enemy's strongly organized defense line the following day, he voluntarily crawled approximately 40 yards forward of our lines and placed demolitions in the entrance of a large Japanese emplacement as the initial move in his planned attack against the heavily garrisoned, bombproof installation which was stubbornly resisting despite the destruction early in the action of a large number of Japanese who had been inflicting heavy casualties on our forces and holding up our advance. Withdrawing only to replenish his ammunition, he led his men in a renewed assault, fearlessly exposing himself to the merciless slash of hostile fire as he stormed the formidable bastion, directed the placement of demolition charges in both entrances and seized the top of the bombproof position, flushing more than 100 of the enemy who were instantly cut down, and effecting the annihilation of approximately 150 troops inside the emplacement. Assailed by additional Japanese after he had gained his objective, he made a heroic stand on the edge of the structure, defending his strategic position with indomitable determination in the face of the desperate charge and killing three of the enemy before he fell, mortally wounded. By his dauntless fighting spirit, unrelenting aggressiveness and forceful leadership throughout three days of unremitting, violent battle, 1st Lt. Bonnyman had inspired his men to heroic effort, enabling them to beat off the counterattack and break the back of hostile resistance in that sector for an immediate gain of 400 yards with no further casualties to our forces in this zone. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Recovery of Remain
In June 2015, Bonnyman's remains, along with the remains of 35 other Marines who were killed in action, were located and recovered by History Flight / Mark Noah on Betio. In July 2015, his remains were transported to Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). On August 10, 2015 Bonnyman was accounted for by the Department of Defense (DoD).

Memorials
Bonnyman was officially declared dead November 22, 1943. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 4 and after his remains were recovered a rosette added next to his name indicating he was accounted-for. Bonnyman also has a memorial marker at Santa Fe National Cemetery at MA-84. After his remains were recovered and identified, he was permanently buried on September 27, 2015 at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, TN next to the grave of his parents.

Relatives
Clay Bonnyman Evans (grandson)

References`
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alexander Bonnyman Jr.
"1LT Bonnyman's remains have been recovered and identified. His name is permanently inscribed on the World War II Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu Memorial."
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Personnel Profile - 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr. accounted-for
FindAGrave - 1LT Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman, Jr (photo, courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 1LT Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - 1LT Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman, Jr (photo, grave photo)
History Flight - 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.
History Flight Search, Recovery and Identification Report 1st LT. Alexander Bonnyman Jr. Betio, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati 2006-2015
DVIDS - 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr. returns home from Tarawa (photos gallery images 1-5)
Washington Post "‘Golden’ ending: How one man discovered his war hero grandfather’s long lost grave" by Michael E. Miller July 2, 2015
Leatherneck Magazine "Finding the Haystack: History Flight Locates Lost Cemetery on Betio Island, Tarawa" by Clay Bonnyman Evans November 2018 pages 58-59 [PDF]
Leatherneck Magazine "Until They All Come Home History Flight is Dedicated to Locating, Excavating Remains of Missing Marines" by Nancy S. Lichtman November 2020
Missing Marines - Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.
Missing Marines "Sandy” Bonnyman Found On Tarawa" June 29, 2015
Thanks to Clay Bonnyman Evans and Mark Noah for additional information

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