Laurence Patrick Spillan, Jr.
PFC Laurence P. “Larry” Spillan, Jr. served with Charlie Company, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 11 November 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserrve
Service Number 339755
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 15, 1922
at Chicago, IL
Parents
Laurence Patrick Spillan, Sr.
Frances (Griffith) Spillan (d. 1931)
Education
Leo High School (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
January 5, 1942
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
408 Winneconna Parkway
Chicago, IL
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Laurence P. Spillan Sr.
Military Specialty
Raider
Primary Unit
C/2nd Raider Battalion
(Carlson’s Raiders)
Campaigns Served
Midway
Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Larry Spillan was a member of Carlson’s Raiders during the “Long Patrol” – an ambitious operation to harass and disrupt Japanese units during the Guadalcanal campaign. The Marines landed at Aola on 4 November 1942 and began working their way towards the main perimeter at Lunga Point, fighting small skirmishes and ambushes as they went.
On 11 November 1942, as the Raiders advanced on the village of Asamana, a battalion-sized Japanese force opened fire. Corporal John “JD” Bennett’s squad was on the point, and caught the brunt of the ambush as one veteran recalled:
I was in J. D. Bennett's squad. He was blasted across the chest by a Jap machine gun. We entered that open field of kunai grass with some misgivings and just as we finished crossing the open half mile field we approached more heavy jungle. We could hear the enemy clanking on something and jabbering. J.D. ordered us into a scrimmage line and then all hell broke loose. Larry Spillan and Joe Harrison were killed.
Man, I never heard so goddamn much firing. I couldn't get close enough to the ground. One fucking machine gun didn't sound too fucking friendly in front of me. Lieutenant Maitland ordered "Okay men, let's get up and charge them...." Sgt. "Bull Dog" Evans said "Okay, Lieutenant, you get up first and we will follow you," but that ended any foolish charge talk.
Survivors were pinned in the field for hours; some managed to make their own way back to safety, while others had to wait for the cover of darkness. Wounded men unable to move were in serious danger, especially when Japanese patrols began combing through the area. Dead Marines were left where they fell until the following morning, when the Raiders finally gained control of the area.
Burial Information or Disposition
The seven Raiders killed in the battle of “Bloody Plains” were buried in the field, somewhere in the vicinity of Asamana. No further information was recorded, and the site was never found by post-war searches.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Laurence Spillan Sr.
Location Of Loss
PFC Spillan was killed in action near the village of Asamana.
