Edward Marion Spear
PFC Edward M. Spear served with Easy Company, Second Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 21 November 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 314346
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
July 14, 1922
in St. Louis, MO
Parents
Felix Zeller (d. 1943)
Elsie (Schubach) Zeller
Foster parents
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Trucking
employed by foster father, Felix Zeller
Service Life
Entered Service
August 4, 1941
at St. Louis, MO
Home Of Record
427 Bates Street
St. Louis, MO
Next Of Kin
Brother, Mr. Clarence T. Spear
Military Specialty
—
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 21 November, the 164th and 182nd Infantry Regiments pushed westward along Guadalcanal’s north coast and took positions on ridges beyond Point Cruz. A gap developed between 3/164 and 2/182, and General Edmund Sebree requested a Marine unit to connect the two battalions. Easy Company, 8th Marines was tapped for the task and moved out at approximately 1700 hours. Reports of sniper activity only arrived after they departed, and the route itself was extremely difficult. “Due to the rough terrain, it was 2200 before this company was in position covering this gap,” noted the regiment’s report.
The next morning, Easy Company submitted a casualty report of seven wounded and three killed in action during the night. One of the dead was PFC Edward M. Spear, who suffered fatal shrapnel wounds in the neck on 21 November.
Burial Information or Disposition
Spear’s remains were reportedly “interred on field of action.” A postwar sketch of the area indicates that he was buried close by PhM2c Harvey C. Hall and Corporal Robert Fransen at coordinates (69.3-199.3), Gudalcanal Map #104.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of brother, Mr. Clarence Spear.
Location Of Loss
Approximate area where Spear was reportedly buried.
