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Calvin Kenneth Kasel

Private Calvin K. Kasel served with Item Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 8 October 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 347229

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

January 3, 1925
at Jacksonville, FL

Parents

Oswald Albert Kasel
Alma Zeltha Kasel

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Dairy worker
Family farm

Service Life

Entered Service

January 8, 1942
at Orlando, FL

Home Of Record

247 East 15th Street
Jacksonville, FL

Next Of Kin

Parents, Oswald & Alma Kasel

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

I/3/5th Marines

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Calvin’s older brother, Milton, served with C/1/5th Marines on Guadalcanal.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Seventeen-year-old Private Calvin Kasel served in Item Company, 3/5 during the Guadalcanal campaign. From August to September 1942, he participated in heavy combat along the island’s north coast; most objectives centered around control of the Matanikau River.

On 7 October, 3/5 set out to support another operation aimed at crossing the river. Item Company led the way, intending to establish defensive positions along the eastern bank. Instead, they ran into an entrenched Japanese force about 500 yards from their objective. It took the Marines most of the day to reach the river, but Item Company had a dangerous gap on their right flank that could not be closed by nightfall. The Japanese broke through their lines after dark, inflicting heavy casualties on Item Company in a confusing melee. “It was mayhem first class,” said Ore Marion of L/3/5, “with bayoneting, screaming, shouting, and the constant crackle of small-arms fire in that black night.” An Item Company machine gun crew was overrun, and their weapon captured by the rampaging Japanese troops.

Excerpt from the muster roll of I/3/5, October 1942.

In the morning, Item Company took stock of their losses. Seven Marines were killed in action; three more were reported missing later in the day. Only three of the bodies could be transported back to the cemetery.

Private Kasel lost his life to gunshot wounds in the head and chest. His remains could not be recovered from the field.

Burial Information or Disposition

Not recovered; disposition of remains unknown.

One of Calvin Kasel’s identification tags was found on Guadalcanal in 2009, and returned to his family.

Next Of Kin Address

Wartime address of parents, Oswald and Alma Kasel.
Previously, the Kasels owned a dairy farm on Lem Turner Road outside of Jacksonville.

 

Location Of Loss

Private Kasel was killed in action near the eastern bank of the Matanikau River.

Related Profiles

Members of 3/5 non-recovered from the Third Matanikau action.
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