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James Cecil Gaston

PFC James C. “Chick” Gaston served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines.
He was killed in action near Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on 3 November 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 291857

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered.

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

May 31, 1921
at Belleville, AL

Parents

Willie James Gaston
Ruby Bell (Pickens) Gaston

Education

Castleberry High School (1940)

Occupation & Employer

Enlisted after graduation

Service Life

Entered Service

August 16, 1940
at Macon, GA

Home Of Record

Castleberry, AL

Next Of Kin

Parents, Willie & Ruby Gaston

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

M/3/5th Marines

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

The third day of November 1942 marked the third day of a combined Marine-Army push to the west along Guadalcanal’s northern coast. Ambitious planners hoped to seize the Japanese base at Kokumbona, but an unexpectedly fierce defense by the Imperial Army’s 4th and 124 Infantry Regiments inflicted heavy casualties and stunted progress. The 5th Marines faced an especially tough challenge from Colonel Nomasu Nakaguma’s 4th Infantry entrenched around the base of Point Cruz. Two days of fierce fighting, including an unusual American bayonet charge, finally trapped the surviving Japanese infantry in a constricted pocket west of the Point.

The task of eliminating the final resistance fell to the Second Battalion, 5th Marines, with support from the Third Battalion. At 0800, the Americans began advancing north towards the beach; by 1042, they were at the shore and firing at Japanese troops desperately swimming to safety. As the 2nd Marines and 164th Infantry moved in to take over the area, the 5th withdrew east of the Matanikau and took up defensive positions.

PFC Cecil Gaston, a member of the Third Battalion’s heavy weapons company, was killed in action by shrapnel wounds in his right breast. No further details of his death are known.

Muster roll of M/3/5th Marines, November 1942.
Burial Information or Disposition

PFC Gaston was reportedly buried “in the Lunga area” on Guadalcanal. Unfortunately, no specific location was reported and his grave was never found after the war.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, Willie and Ruby Gaston.

Location Of Loss

Gaston’s battalion was engaged in the vicinity of Point Cruz.

Related Profiles

Members of the 5th Marines non-recovered from the Point Cruz action, November 2-3, 1942.
November 2
November 3
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