James Rall
Sergeant James “Jimmie” Rall served with King Company, Third Battalion, 22nd Marines.
He failed to return from a fishing trip near Apia, Samoa, on 30 August 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 264810
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
February 22, 1920
at Spokane, WA (military records)
or in Missouri (civilian records)
Parents*
Edward Melvin Rall
Margaret (McCarty) Rall
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Professional Marine
*Note: James was adopted by the Ralls at a very young age; the names of his birth parents are not known.
Service Life
Entered Service
April 25, 1938
at Seattle, WA
Home Of Record
Seattle, WA
Next Of Kin
Guardian, Mr. Edward M. Rall
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
K/3/22nd Marines
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Sergeant James Rall, a Marine with several years of pre-war experience, was an NCO in K/3/22nd Marines during the occupation of Samoa.
On 30 August 1942, Rall and Private Ira Kohler obtained permission to go fishing. They borrowed or hired a Samoan outrigger canoe and departed from camp at 2130 hours. The boat was “in a leaky condition,” but the two Marines headed out anyway. They never returned, and nothing more was heard of Rall and Kohler.
Both Marines were declared dead as of 31 August 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Wartime address of “guardian,” Mr. Edward Rall.
Location Of Loss
Rall and Kohler were stationed at Apia at the time of loss. The exact location is not known.
