Ralph Henry Paquette
PFC Ralph H. Paquette served with King Company, Third Battalion, 3rd Marines.
He was killed in action at the battle of Piva Forks, Bougainville, on 22 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 390372
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 21, 1922
at Burlington, VT
Parents
Frank Albert Paquette
Edna D. (Duell) Paquette
Education
Burlington High School (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Van driver
Star Cleansing Company
Service Life
Entered Service
May 7, 1942
at Springfield, MA
Home Of Record
71 Rose Street
Burlington, VT
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Frank Paquette
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
K/3/3rd Marines
Campaigns Served
Bougainville
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Ralph Paquette fought in the Bougainville campaign with King Company, 3rd Marines, from the Cape Torokina landings onwards. For nearly three weeks, his regiment was actively helping expand the American beachhead and guarding against Japanese incursions. A significant battle commenced on 19 November as American and Japanese forces fought bitterly over a series of roadblocks set up along the Numa-Numa and East-West trails near the Piva River. Paquette’s 3rd Marines were heavily engaged for several days.
On 22 November, the Third Battalion 3rd Marines attempted to advance on Japanese positions along the East-West Trail near Piva Forks. It would prove to be a costly maneuver.
The enemy resistance in the 3d Marines' sector, however, was unexpectedly strong. All three battalions were engaged with the Japanese during the course of the advance. The left battalion, 3/3, crossed the Piva River without trouble and advanced toward a slight rise. As the 3/3 scouts came over the top of this ridge, the Japanese opened fire from reverse slope positions. The scouts were pinned down by this sudden outburst, but after the rest of the battalion moved forward a strong charge over the ridge cleared the area of all Japanese. Before the battalion could consolidate the position, though, enemy 90mm mortars registered on the slope, and the Marines were forced to seek shelter in the 200 or more foxholes which dotted the area. These enemy emplacements and the steep slope prevented many casualties. The 3d Battalion decided to halt in this position and a defensive perimeter was set up for the night.
King Company suffered several men wounded in this operation, while two – PFC Paul A. Taylor and PFC Paquette – were killed “I was in the action on Bougainvile, Solomon Islands when Ralph was wounded,” recalled PFC Joseph R. Goddard. “He was one of my buddies and we had met in American Samoa during our training time prior to the Invasion of Bougainville. He received a wound in his groin when Japs were rolling grenades down a slope of a ridge where we were attacking.” Paquette’s casualty card indicates that he ultimately died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Burial Information or Disposition
PFC Paquette was reportedly buried in an isolated grave in the “Empress Augusta Bay area,” according to his company muster roll. A more precise location was later added to his Marine Corps casualty card: map coordinates 135.6–219.47 “on Bougainville Island.” Although the card does not include a specific map to reference, it is almost certainly the FMAC Hasty Terrain Map of Empress Augusta Bay, which was in common use at the time.
Plotting these coordinates shows a remote location, far from any landmarks or notable habitation. When search parties attempted to find Paquette’s grave six years after the battle, they were unsuccessful. The young Vermonter most likely still lies on the field where he fell.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Frank Paquette.
Location Of Loss
PFC Paquette was killed on an unnamed hill somewhere in the vicinity of the Piva River.
