Raymond Joseph Schulthies

Private Raymond Schulthies served with the 8th Marines during the Guadalcanal campaign.

On 19 November 1942, B/1/8th Marines crossed the Matanikau River to provide flank security for the advancing 182nd Infantry Regiment. They followed an artillery barrage along “Beach Road,” passed the base of Point Cruz, and continued until reaching their objective about 400 yards west of the Point. As they waited for the Army to catch up, the Marines spotted Japanese troops advancing eastward and opened fire. The ensuing firefight wounded PFC John “Whitey” Onnen, and a group of Marines made an ad-hoc stretcher to carry him back to safety. At 1630 hours, A/182nd arrived, and the Marines began an orderly withdrawal back towards the Matanikau.

PFC Barney Ross, a well-known boxer serving with B/1/8, was helping to evacuate Onnen when a Japanese machine gun ambushed the stretcher party. Three Marines (including Private Francis J. Monick) were wounded in the first burst, and Onnen was killed on his stretcher. It is likely that Ray Schulthies was hit here as well; Barney Ross later said “‘Peepsight’ Schulthies was hit and crumpled beside me,” and mentioned that a Marine was killed while dragging Onnen out of the line of fire. He was not clear about this man’s identity, but as Schulthies was reported killed at approximately 1630 hours – and was reportedly buried some distance west of Point Cruz – it seems probable that he was the one who fell trying to rescue Whitey Onnen.