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Bernard L. Shanley

NAME
Bernard Leo Shanley
NICKNAME
MCSN
378620
HOME OF RECORD
56 Lawrence Street, Providence, RI
NEXT OF KIN
Father, Mr. Daniel J. Shanley
DATE OF BIRTH
December 6, 1924
ENTERED SERVICE
March 9, 1942
DATE OF LOSS
November 23, 1942
REGION
Solomons
CAMPAIGN / AREA
Guadalcanal
CASUALTY TYPE
Killed In Action
UNIT
A/1/8th Marines
DUTY
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS
On 22 November 1942, units of the Army’s Americal Division and the 8th Marine Regiment began a series of frontal attacks on a string of hills along the north coast of Guadalcanal. After 48 hours the operation was called off. Nearly 40 members of the 8th Marines lost their lives in the futile assault.*

At 0630 on 23 November, Companies A and C of the 8th Marines passed through Army lines to take over the assault and “immediately came under heavy fire from enemy snipers and machine guns.” Private Bernard L. Shanley of A/1/8 was one of the Marines to lose his life in this attack; he was reportedly buried in the field, but his grave site was later lost.

INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS
Purple Heart
LAST KNOWN RANK
Private
STATUS OF REMAINS
Not recovered
MEMORIALS
St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket, RI
Manila American Cemetery

* Note: Official sources and several histories report that the 8th Marines suffered nine fatal casualties. However, this number only accounts for those Marines who were buried in the island cemetery. It excludes fully 29 men who were reported missing in action or buried in the field.

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