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Robert Lornine Russell

Corporal Robert L. Russell served with Item Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 25 October 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 316016

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

October 13, 1923
at Santa Monica, CA

Parents

Thomas Franklin Russell (d. 1934)
Frances Georgina (Rose) Russell

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

July 5, 1941
at Los Angeles, CA

Home Of Record

Inglewood, CA

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Frances Pulley

Military Specialty

If known—

Primary Unit

I/3/2nd Marines

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

October 25, 1942, was known as “Dugout Sunday” on Guadalcanal. Japanese forces, intent on recapturing Henderson Field, launched incessant naval, air, and artillery strikes against American lines. Every man who could stay put sheltered in his foxhole, but other units had to shift locations to prepare for an expected infantry attack. The First Battalion, 7th Marines, and Third Battalion, 164th Infantry held the southern part of the perimeter; the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines – including Item Company and Corporal Robert L. Russell – were stationed behind them in reserve.

That night, troops under General Yumio Nasu unsuccessfully attacked the position and retreated after suffering enormous casualties. A regimental report from the 2nd Marines notes that 3/2 “manned battle positions all night” but makes no mention of enemy contact.

Russell was killed in action by a mortar strike during the day’s activities. Unfortunately, the exact circumstances of his death are not known.

Burial Information or Disposition

According to the Item Company muster roll and Marine Corps casualty records, Russell’s body was recovered “but due to battle conditions was buried in First Marine Division Cemetery, Guadalcanal, Grave number unknown.”

Three other Marines from Russell’s company were killed on 25 October:
Private LuVerne H. Trimborn (gunshot wounds) was buried at an unknown place “in the field.” He was found and identified in August, 1943.
PFC Norman E. Boehlke (mortar shrapnel) was buried as an unknown in Row 43, Grave 8. He was identified as “X-20” in 1943.
Corporal Roscoe Kincaid (mortar shrapnel) was buried with identification in Row 43, Grave 10.

Boehlke’s Individual Deceased Personnel File notes that “his body was recovered but due to battle conditions he was buried in the First Division Cemetery before identification could be made” – almost identical to Corporal Russell. And there was an unknown Marine – Guadalcanal X-19 – buried in Row 44, Grave 4, on the same day. Anthropologists described X-19 as “a tall (6’0″) young man with light golden brown hair,” weighing about 160 pounds. He was found with a pair of service shoes size 10.5 and a belt buckle; an ID tag for Private Clarence E. Ables was posthumously placed with the remains.

If a physical description of Corporal Russell can be found, he may potentially be a match for Unknown X-19.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Frances Pulley.

Location Of Loss

Corporal Russell was killed in action at an unspecified location on Guadalcanal.

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