Raymond Ernest Sanders
PFC Raymond E. Sanders served with Able Company, First Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 3 November 1942.
Branch
Marines Corps Regular
Service Number 333486
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
March 29, 1916
at Jackson, MI
Parents
Ernest J. Sanders
Marie (Johnson) Sanders
Education
Michigan Center High School (1934)
Senior Class President
Occupation
Frost Gear & Forge Company
Service Life
Entered Service
December 14, 1941
at Detroit, MI
Home Of Record
307 South Gorham Street
Jackson, MI
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Ernest Sanders
Military Specialty
Unknown
Primary Unit
2nd Marines (A/1)
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Raymond Sanders served with Company A, 2nd Marines during the Solomon Islands campaign. He saw combat on Tulagi and Guadalcanal.
On 3 November 1942, the First Battalion 2nd Marines was participating in the “November Offensive” – a general advance against Japanese positions west of Guadalcanal’s Matanikau River. They departed the Point Cruz area at 0630, hoping to reach phase line O-3 by the end of the day. Approximately 300 yards from the objective, they were stopped by determined Japanese resistance and suffered 74 casualties before withdrawing to more defensible positions.
According to veteran William Rogal, “A Company had 18 casualties – seven killed and 11 wounded.” The dead Marines were Cpl. Thurman Price, PFC Raymond Sanders, PFC Blaine N. Hyde, Pvt. Harold H. Baker, Pvt. Raymond H. Hesslink, Pvt. Doyle K. Miller, and Pvt. Dalton W. Whittington. An eighth man, Pvt. Doomey C. Armstrong, later died of wounds suffered in this battle.
Burial Information or Disposition
PFC Sanders was killed “by shrapnel wounds while on patrol in vicinity of 300 yards west of position O-3.” His body was not recovered, and was “presumably buried in the field at place of death.” Hesslink and Whittington from A/1/2 were also killed in this vicinity, as were several others from their battalion.
In the late 1940s, a search and recovery team from the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company discovered the remains of three men in the area. Two were identified – Private Thomas J. Christie (B/1/2) and PhM3c Bruce B. Bender (attached to the 2nd Marines). The remains of the third individual, designated “Isolated Burial X-12C,” were buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as an unknown.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Ernest & Marie Sanders.
Location Of Loss
A rough approximation of Sanders’ area of loss on Guadalcanal.
Gallery
Related Profiles
Members of First Battalion, 2nd Marines killed in “the vicinity of 300 yards West of Position 03” on 3 November 1942.
I’m 75 years old and as far back as I can remember I heard the story about Raymond, a family member who joined The Marines in World War 2 and how he lost his life in battle. It was said that he was shot in the neck by a sniper on Tulagi and lived three days before dying and his Body was lost and never recovered. I was born after the war and never knew Raymond . Later in my life I studied the battle history of Guadalcanal and the part Raymond’s unit was involved in. I learned that history does not support the stories about Raymond’s death. Initially, he was on Tulagi, however; his unit (2nd Marines) was relocated To Guadalcanal were Raymond was killed in action on November 3rd 1942. I believe the account of his death listed here is the actual truth. I have no idea where the other stories originated from. My only regret is I’m the only family member left who cares that his memory is honored with the truth. I have pictures of Raymond if interested.
Geoffrey
The truth regarding Raymond Sanders is very important to my Sister and myself. We desire to help in any way we can and are currently in the process of gathering the pictures, letters, medals etc. that we put into a notebook a few years ago. Regarding DNA testing, Raymond is my Grandfather’s older brother (my mothers uncle). Could our DNA be used to aid in the identification of the unidentified marine that maybe Raymond. Please call me at 517 474 5033. We cannot thank you enough. We had given up hope of finding anything more until now and the possibility that Raymond’s remains may have been found is overwhelming.
Thankyou
Richard Saltzgaber
Cheryl Rosenau