Richard Arthur Koop
PFC Richard A. “Dick” Koop served with Able Company, First Battalion, 6th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 23 January 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 346214
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 13, 1921
in Brainerd, MN
Parents
Earl John Koop
Eleanor A. (Caulfield) Koop
Education
Brainerd High School
Brainerd Junior College
Occupation & Employer
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
January 3, 1942
in Minneapolis, MN
Home Of Record
423 North 3rd Street
Brainerd, MN
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Earl Koop
Military Specialty
Machine gunner
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
The 6th Marine Regiment (Reinforced) arrived at Guadalcanal on 4 January 1943. After a week of acclimating and scouting, they were attached to the Combined Army and Marine (CAM) Division and moved into forward reserve positions. Over the next few days, they gradually relieved other combat units exhausted by the XIV Corps offensive to drive the last remaining Japanese forces off the island.
On 22 January, the CAM division launched a full-scale assault aimed at Kokumbona, with the Marines moving along Guadalcanal’s north coast. The First Battalion, 6th Marines, made good progress in their sector, but were forced to hold up when intense enemy resistance stalled the Third Battalion on their right. Japanese forces were badly weakened in the fighting, however, and the next morning “the battalion mopped pocket after pocket of Jap resistance and steadily pushed their progress westward.” By 1140 on 23 January, 1/6th Marines was atop its objective on Hill 92.
An operations report from the 6th Marines noted the “box score” for the operation was “155 known Japs killed” in return for seven Marines wounded and three killed in action. Muster rolls tell a slightly different story, showing PFC Richard A. Koop, a machine gunner from Brainerd, Minnesota, as the battalion’s only fatality on 23 January. He was killed by “extreme” gunshot wounds; no other details of his death are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
According to casualty reports, Koop’s body was buried in the field near Hill 92 on the following day. His grave was marked on a map overlay that correlated with coordinates (66.35-201.35) on the standard Map 104 of Guadalcanal’s northern coast. Unfortunately, this location could not be located by post-war searchers.
Memorials
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
The Marine Corps League “Richard A. Koop” Post, Brainerd, was named in his honor.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Earl Koop.
Location Of Loss
Koop was reportedly buried near Hill 92, Guadalcanal.
