Garrett Paul Dwyer
PFC Garrett P. Dwyer served with How Company, Second Battalion, 7th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 25 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 308214
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 28, 1921
at New York, NY
Parents
Garrett Joseph Dwyer
Mary Ann (Ryan) Dwyer
Education
High school graduate
details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
March 28, 1941
at New York, NY
Home Of Record
1306 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, NY
Next Of Kin
Parents, Garrett & Mary Dwyer
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
H/2/7th Marines
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
The 25th of October, 1942, was an anxious day for the Second Battalion, 7th Marines. They arrived on the front lines the day before, having endured a punishing march under near-constant Japanese mortar fire, and took up defensive positions and outpost duty. Enemy troops appeared early in the morning, driving in the outpost and causing some casualties before pulling back. The rest of the day was spent ducking accurate Japanese mortars and artillery, and watching friendly shells strike back.
PFC Garrett Dwyer was killed in action during the day’s operations; unfortunately, no further specifics of his death are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
On 31 October 1942 – six days after his death – PFC Dwyer was found and buried at coordinates (71.70-199.45) on Guadalcanal Map 104. This delay may suggest that he was one of the men lost at the outpost, some distance from friendly lines.
Although Dwyer’s temporary grave was plotted and marked, Graves Registration units operating after the war were unable to find any trace.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Garrett & Mary Dwyer.
Location Of Loss
Approximate site of Dwyer’s reported grave.
