Doyle Hugh Asher
Corporal Doyle H. Asher served with the Weapons Platoon of Baker Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action near Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on 18 November 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 266804
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This information has not been publicized by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 27, 1919
in Ponca City, OK
Parents
Hugh Elroy Asher
Hattie Leah (Smoykeffer) Asher
Education
Chanute High School (1938)
Occupation & Employer
Professional Marine
Service Life
Entered Service
August 1, 1938
at Kansas City, MO
Home Of Record
Rural Route 3
Chanute, KS
Next Of Kin
Parents, Hugh & Hattie Asher
Military Specialty
Machine gun NCO
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 18 November 1942, the 8th Marines were assigned the task of supporting an advance by the 182nd (Army) Infantry on Guadalcanal. Their route would lead them west down “Government Track” – a beach road running along the island’s northern coast – from the Matanikau River to Point Cruz. A patrol from B/1/8 led the way, with a group of machine gunners – including Corporal Asher and Sergeant William A. Smith – attached for extra firepower.
When the Marines reached the base of Point Cruz, Japanese skirmishers opened fire, killing Sergeant Smith. The rest of the men dove for cover. PFC Marshall “Little Smitty” Smith (no relation to the sergeant) recalled peering into the jungle undergrowth, trying to spot the invisible enemy.
My hand is shaking. I don't know where this sniper is. And a corporal [Asher] from the weapons platoon comes up... stands right in front of me with his Tommy gun across his arm, and he says, "What the hell is going on?" And I said, "There are Japs here somewhere...." While he's talking to me, the sniper zeroed in on him and shot him right through the head. And his helmet came bouncing off the deck right next to me.
Anyway, the platoon leader comes up... he said, "We're gonna pick up the bodies." I don't remember whether he blew a whistle or yelled, but we moved and we were going to pick up [Asher] and [Smith]. I know there's a guy up there who's watching me... he shot me right in the middle of my chest. I'm practically, you know, a couple feet from [Asher].... The gunner said "That's enough, get the hell out of here. We'll leave the bodies here and we'll come back for them in the morning."
Burial Information or Disposition
After the war, search parties from the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company attempted to locate the burial sites of Corporal Asher and Sergeant Smith. Unfortunately, the coordinates in their files were wrong – showing the graves out at sea – and the Point Cruz area had long since been bulldozed into a military base, obliterating any trace of the graves.
Today, Corporal Asher’s body likely lies under the city of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.
Memorials
Read Corporal Asher's full story in the book Leaving Mac Behind: The Lost Marines of Guadalcanal.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Hugh & Hattie Asher.
Location Of Loss
Corporal Asher was killed in action near the base of Point Cruz, Guadalcanal.
