Merlyn Lyle Thompson
Private Merlyn L. “Lyle” Thompson served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 8 August 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 328785
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 20, 1922
at Brooklyn, IA
Parents
Charles A. Thompson
Dora L. “Zella” Thompson
Education
Dexter High School
Occupation & Employer
Family farm
Service Life
Entered Service
December 15, 1941
at Des Moines, IA
Home Of Record
Dexter, IA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Zella Thompson
Military Specialty
Machine Gunner
Primary Unit
M/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Gavutu
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Merlyn L. Thompson served as a heavy machine gun crewman with Company M, 2nd Marines during the Solomon Islands campaign.
On 8 August 1942, King Company of the 2nd Marines was assigned mop-up duty on Gavutu. The island had been largely conquered by the 1st Parachute Battalion on the previous day, but numerous Japanese soldiers were hiding in caves on Hill 148 – a low rise that dominated the little island. They were also within range of Tanambogo, an even smaller island connected to Gavutu by means of a causeway, where the Japanese garrison was mounting a spirited defense.
Private Thompson’s crew – which included Privates William H. Pollock and William A. James, among others – followed a rifle platoon up the slopes of Hill 148. As they climbed, Japanese fire from Tanambogo began whistling past their ears. Leonard Skinner, a King Company rifleman, was nearby as they gained the summit of the hill.
I reached the top of the hill which had a low, open structure on it made out of corrugated iron. Over this shelter flew the Japanese flag. We set up a machine gun, aiming it at Tanambogo, which was giving us heavy fire. I took up a prone position a few feet from the machine gun where I could also bring my rifle to bear on Tanambogo.
The noise of machine gun, rifle, and mortar fire was very loud and continuous. Suddenly there was even a louder roar and instantaneous explosion, then all went black and quiet. Although I did not know it at the time, an American dive bomber from one of our carriers was ordered to bomb Tanambogo. The pilot became confused and, seeing the Japanese flag flying over us, dive bombed Gavutu instead and dropped a 500-pound fragmentation bomb square on our machine gun. The gun crew was killed and several other Marines were killed or wounded. I was blown about half way down the hill.
I don't know how long I was unconscious, but it was a little while. As I started coming to I realized something had happened. As everything was black and completely silent, I thought I must be dead. I remember that I wasn't frightened, but was curious as to what would happen next as people often wondered about what took place after death, but no one had ever been able to report it. As I waited to discover this, gradually things started to get light and focused until I realized I was still on Gavutu and lying flat on my back.... The most difficult thing I ever did was to raise my head and look toward my lower extremities as I was afraid what I would find. As it was, I could see I was completely covered with blood, but both legs looked intact and I could see two feet pointing skyward.
About that time two Navy Corpsmen arrived with a stretcher and placed me on it, then carried me down the remainder of the hill where the former store was located and which was now battalion aid. Keeping me on the stretcher, they carried me to the second floor of this building and placed me on two supports. Doctor Eisenberg rushed over and unbuttoned my jacket. As he removed the jacket, which was absolutely soaked in blood, both he and I stared in amazement at my nice white skin underneath. The blood belonged to some other poor Marine and was not mine at all. The examination showed I had been hit several times by small pieces of shrapnel and other debris, but as they were hot from exploding they cauterized their own entry and I had not bled at all.
This tragic error was a repeat of the previous day, when an American bomb killed Corporal Raymond L. Bray of the Paramarines on almost the very same spot.
Burial Information or Disposition
The exploding bomb killed five Marines: PFC Richard A. Holden (K/3/2), and PFC Frank Kootlas and Privates James, Pollock, and Thompson (M/3/2). Holden and Kootlas were brought to the Gavutu Cemetery by Lever’s Store for burial, but no identifiable trace of the three privates could be found.
Although all eyewitnesses realized that James, Pollock, and Thompson were undoubtedly dead, the three were reported as “missing result of aerial bomb hit his position.” All were declared dead on 9 August 1943.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Zella Thompson.
Merlyn left a daughter, Donna Lee, born to Lorena Winifred Abrams on 25 February 1942.
Location Of Loss
Private Thompson was killed near the summit of Hill 148, Gavutu.
There is a poem about the loss at Gavutu called The Graves of Gavutu written by Frank W. McCulloch during WWII. See http://vmf-213.com/graves-of-gavutu.html
Thanks very much for sharing, John. I recently got a copy of “The Leathernecks Come Through” by Lt. W. Wyeth Willard of the 2nd Marines. Chaplain Willard was tasked with creating the Gavutu cemetery with a team of volunteers, some of whom “fainted because of the heat or the sight of the bloody and stiffened bodies of their friends.” Considering the size of the task at hand – and that he had no trained help, or previous experience in creating a military cemetery – he did quite a remarkable job. (He was also involved in recording burials at Tarawa; the “Willard List” in his diary is at times more accurate than the official records.)
He also has some very vivid descriptions of the battle itself, and of daily life during the long Guadalcanal campaign. Highly recommended read if you can find a copy.