James Hortin Roosevelt
Private James H. Roosevelt served with Charlie Company, 1st Marine Raider Battalion.
He was killed in action in a firefight near Triri, New Georgia, on 8 July 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 489879
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
December 9, 1922
at Albion, IL
Parents
James Blain Roosevelt
Fannie (Hortin) Roosevelt
Education
Albion High School (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Family farm
Service Life
Entered Service
December 2, 1942
at Louisville, KY
Home Of Record
Rural Route #2
Albion, IL
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. James B. Roosevelt
Military Specialty
Raider
Primary Unit
C/1st Raider Battalion
Campaigns Served
New Georgia
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private James H. Roosevelt served with Company C, 1st Raider Battalion during the campaign for New Georgia.
On 8 July 1943, Pvt. Roosevelt awoke in the recently captured village of Triri, located on the “Dragon’s Peninsula” of New Georgia, and watched as other Raider companies set up ambushes and sent patrols along the trails leading to their main objectives of Enogai and Bairoko. Firing broke out in the direction of Bairoko at 0700 and grew more intense as the hours passed. Shortly before 1100, Company C was ordered to join the fracas and relieve their buddies. They “carried out the relief under fire with great skill,” advancing 200 yards down the trail and sending the Japanese force back to Bairoko.
Fifty Japanese bodies lay along the trail, alongside three Americans: Private Paul W. Williams (Co. D), PhM3c James J. Corbett (HQ Co.) and Private Roosevelt.
Burial Information or Disposition
There are conflicting accounts of what happened to Roosevelt’s remains. His USMC Casualty Card claims “Buried at New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands, in US Gov’t Cemetery at Enogai.” However, Enogai would not fall to the Americans for another two days.
The battalion muster roll is much more succinct: “place of burial unknown.” Of the three Americans killed on the Triri-Bairoko Trail, Roosevelt is the only one so designated. Williams was “buried in the field 150 yards NW of Outpost 2,” and Corbett “50 feet south of Foli near Outpost 2.”
It should be noted that two Marines who fell on the previous day – PFC John G. Kingsbury, Jr., and Private Lloyd B. Abbott, both from Company D – have the exact same notations: Kingsbury matches with Williams, and Abbott with Corbett. All four of these men were later found, identified, and reburied.
It is possible that Roosevelt’s remains were found in the field and brought to Enogai Cemetery in 1943 – but if they were, any identifying materials have been lost.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
The Roosevelts lived on a farm outside the town of Albion.
Location Of Loss
Approximate site of Triri, New Georgia.
