Skip to content

Edgar Jackson

Private Edgar Jackson served with Dog Battery, Second Battalion, 11 Marines.
He was reported missing after his evacuation from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 18 October 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 327968

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

September 23, 1920
at Robeson County, NC

Parents

George Robert Jackson (d. 1945)
Mary Nina (Bunnell) Jackson

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

November 19, 1941
at Raleigh, NC

Home Of Record

Rex, NC

Next Of Kin

Father, Mr. George Jackson

Military Specialty

Artilleryman

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

In mid-October 1942, Japanese warships took full advantage of their nighttime naval superiority and threw tons of shells into American positions on Guadalcanal. The airfield was their primary target, but many units stationed in the vicinity took casualties as well – including the artillerymen of the 11th Marines.

Private Edgar Jackson of Battery D was admitted to the Division Field Hospital on 15 October 1942, suffering the effects of shell shock. After two days of observation, doctors decided to evacuate Jackson for further treatment. The young private left the hospital – and effectively disappeared. There is no record of how he was evacuated; he never appeared at any rear-area hospital, and he drew no pay after 18 October

Excerpt from the muster rolls of D/2/11, October 1942.

Jackson may have been aboard the USS McFarland on 17 October 1942. The seaplane tender was discharging supplies for the airfield and taking on casualties for evacuation – notably, she had a significant number of “combat fatigue” patients aboard. Japanese planes attacked McFarland at 1700 hours, sending the patients into a panicked frenzy. Several men were blown overboard by near misses, and one bomb hit squarely on the fantail and detonated a depth charge. Many evacuees and sailors were killed in the explosion; eight unidentifiable bodies were later put ashore at Tulagi for burial.

For all intents and purposes, Edgar Jackson vanished without a trace. He was ultimately declared dead on 19 February 1945.

Burial Information or Disposition

No information available.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, George and Mary Jackson.

Location Of Loss

Private Jackson was last seen at an unspecified location on Guadalcanal.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *