Leon Walter McStine

Leon Minkstein was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania on 10 April 1913. He was the oldest child of Walter and Frances  (Misk) Minkstein, and over the years became a big brother to no less than eleven siblings. The Minksteins relied on “Wallie’s” labor in the Northumberland County coal mines until the early 1930s when the entire family picked up and moved to Brooklyn, New York. At around this time, the name “Minkstein” disappeared in favor of “McStine.”

Young Leon attended classes until he finished grammar school; with eighth grade behind him, he went out looking for work to help support the family. He found employment as a weaver, but by the winter of 1933 had his sights set on a life in uniform. On 15 December 1933, Leon presented himself at the Marine Corps recruiting office in New York City and signed on for four years. Although he was twenty years old, the Marines still required consent from Wallie and Frances before accepting Leon as a volunteer.

Private McStine arrived at Parris Island before Christmas, 1933, and was soon fully immersed in the world of the Marine Corps. He proved to be an able recruit, especially with his M1903 Springfield rifle (number 811331, a fact he was compelled to memorize). McStine left boot camp with his prized Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem and the Maltese cross badge of a sharpshooter. In February 1934 he arrived at his first duty station – the Naval powder factory at Indian Head, Maryland – and settled into a routine of guard duty that would last until November 1935.

After such a long stretch of relatively dull duty, McStine was probably anxious for a change – and assignment to Sea School was a welcome opportunity. The young private passed the rigorous training and was rewarded with an assignment to the USS Quincy (CA-39), a heavy cruiser prowling the North Atlantic. Unfortunately, his seagoing career would be short-lived. After only two months aboard the Quincy – much of it on mess detail – McStine was either injured or taken sick. His condition required serious care, and in May of 1936, he was admitted to the hospital at Norfolk Navy Yard. A month passed before McStine was cleared for duty; he would spend the rest of his enlistment attached to the yard’s Fire Department. On 14 December 1937, Private McStine was discharged with character “excellent.” He returned home to Brooklyn with a Good Conduct Medal proudly pinned to his chest.

Leon McStine enjoyed civilian life for about three weeks. On 5 January 1938, he was back at the recruiting office, ready for another four-year hitch and clearly intending to make a career out of the Corps. He tried his hand at mess duty, cooking, and the Fleet Marine Force. McStine earned numerous weapons qualifications as a member of First Battalion, 5th Marines, and started catching the eye of officers approving promotions. He even did a turn of recruiting duty with  “excellent” results. McStine passed tests for PFC, corporal, and sergeant ratings; by mid-1941, he was on the list for promotion to platoon sergeant. “As an instructor… and as acting platoon sergeant, his performance of duty has been outstanding,” wrote an officer. “He is active physically and mentally, sober and industrious, an excellent leader, and has a high degree of initiative and a great sense of responsibility.” Small wonder that some of his peers nicknamed McStine “The Great One.”

Sergeant McStine’s second enlistment ended shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor – but after eight years in uniform, he was not about to sit out the war. He pinned on platoon sergeant on 5 January 1942, the start of his third hitch. Five days later, he married Antoinette Julie Venetta – and she was soon pregnant. After seeing Antoinette back off to Brooklyn, McStine turned his attention to a new task: helping train neophyte Marines in Baker Company, First Battalion, 1st Marines.

Once again, McStine excelled at his work. “He has a thorough knowledge of infantry weapons and is an excellent instructor on that subject,” noted 1Lt. Marshall Armstrong, skipper of B/1/1. “He has shown himself to be a reliable, efficient, and forceful Non-Commissioned Officer.” Armstrong assigned McStine duty as an acting gunnery sergeant and intended to make the promotion permanent as soon as possible.

On 17 September 1942, a combat patrol consisting of the bulk of B/1/1 plus supporting elements departed the Marine perimeter for a mission along the banks of the Lunga River. Their primary objective was to discover how far Japanese forces had withdrawn following the brutal battle of Edson’s Ridge. Due to a decision by an inexperienced company commander – a replacement for the well-regarded Lieutenant Armstrong – Baker Company advanced along the dry riverbed instead of through the jungle. Platoon Seregant McStine posted himself near the head of the column.

As the lead elements of Baker Company rounded a curve in the river and approached a small island, they were ambushed by a half-dozen Japanese machine-gun positions. A platoon-sized group was cut off from the main body, and fought desperately to escape the trap. After a few hours of combat, the patrol was ordered to return to friendly lines – effectively abandoning the trapped men to their fate.

Over the next several days, a few escapees managed to reach their company. Seventeen Marines and a Navy corpsman did not return, and were optimistically reported as “missing in action.”

Among them was Platoon Sergeant Leon McStine.

On 25 September 1942, a patrol led by Major Marion Fawcett returned to the ambush site.

“The patrol arrived on the scene of our recent engagement at about 1030,” wrote Fawcett.

A thorough search was conducted for the bodies of eighteen (18) men missing since 17 September 1942. Seventeen (17) bodies were found and identified by men from “B” Company.

It is the opinion of the undersigned that the body not found was that of Private Mickey A. Boschert, and that his was the body recently reported buried by members of the Raider Battalion. Counting this unfound grave, all eighteen men are accounted for as killed in action.

Due to the advanced decomposition of all bodies, it was impossible to ascertain whether or not wounded men had been mistreated or bayoneted.

Baker Company Marines identified the remains of Platoon Sergeant McStine and gingerly went through his pockets for personal effects. They found a twisted handkerchief containing a keyring, a collar clasp, and McStine’s “campaign bars & medals” – these would be forwarded to family back in Brooklyn. Much as they wished, the Marines could do little more than bury the dead men where they had fallen. Major Fawcett drew a diagram of the individual graves, marked the coordinates on his map, and led the way back to the perimeter.

In October 1944, the ambush site was re-discovered by chance. Graves Registration personnel were dispatched and recovered the remains of nine men – eight of them readily identifiable. (The ninth was identified after the war as Corpsman James F. Pierce.) The other nine Marines – including McStine – were not located.

The next attempt to locate the site took place in September 1947. Troops from the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company attempted to replicate Major Fawcett’s coordinates, but unfortunately were issued a different map than the one used in the early days of the Guadalcanal campaign. They conducted a vague, general search over a wide area, but came up empty-handed. Following this failure, the case was declared closed.

Today, the remains of Leon McStine and eight of his comrades still lie in their temporary graves along the Lunga River.

Note: Although all members of the patrol were likely KIA on 17 September 1942, their military date of death is recorded as 25 September 1942 – the day they were found by Major Fawcett’s men.

On 25 September 1942, a patrol led by Major Marion Fawcett returned to the ambush site. “The patrol arrived on the scene of our recent engagement at about 1030,” he wrote.

A thorough search was conducted for the bodies of eighteen (18) men missing since 17 September 1942. Seventeen (17) bodies were found and identified by men from “B” Company.

It is the opinion of the undersigned that the body not found was that of Private Mickey A. Boschert, and that his was the body recently reported buried by members of the Raider Battalion. Counting this unfound grave, all eighteen men are accounted for as killed in action.

Due to the advanced decomposition of all bodies, it was impossible to ascertain whether or not wounded men had been mistreated or bayoneted.

Baker Company Marines identified the remains of Platoon Sergeant McStine and gingerly went through his pockets for personal effects. They found a twisted handkerchief containing a keyring, a collar clasp, and McStine’s “campaign bars & medals” – these would be forwarded to family back in Brooklyn. Much as they wished, the Marines could do little more than bury the dead men where they had fallen. Major Fawcett drew a diagram of the individual graves, marked the coordinates on his map, and led the way back to the perimeter.

In October 1944, the ambush site was re-discovered by chance. Graves Registration personnel were dispatched and recovered the remains of nine men – eight of them readily identifiable. (The ninth was identified after the war as Corpsman James F. Pierce.) The other nine Marines – including McStine – were not located.

The next attempt to locate the site took place in September 1947. Troops from the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company attempted to replicate Major Fawcett’s coordinates, but unfortunately were issued a different map than the one used in the early days of the Guadalcanal campaign. They conducted a vague, general search over a wide area, but came up empty-handed. Following this failure, the case was declared closed.

Today, the remains of Leon McStine and eight of his comrades still lie in their temporary graves along the Lunga River.

Note: Although all members of the patrol were likely KIA on 17 September 1942, their military date of death is recorded as 25 September 1942 – the day they were found by Major Fawcett’s men.

CENOTAPHS
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Arlington National Cemetery