Robert Elsom Barrett

PFC Robert E. Barrett served with Company D, 6th Marines, during the final phases of the battle for Guadalcanal. He had the misfortune to contract malaria almost immediately – the 6th Marines arrived on 4 January, and by 17 January, Barrett was confined to the aid station for treatment. He was released to duty in time to participate in the Kokumbona offensive, but was not fully recovered – a fact that must have been evident to others in his company.

By 3 February 1943, the battle was clearly nearing its end, and combat operations were largely limited to scouting patrols. The First Battalion, 6th Marines dispatched one such patrol under Lt. Emmett Massey to scout “the suspected northern extremity of the North-South trail.” They returned with a negative report – and without PFC Barrett. No enemy forces were seen, and in the opinion of Lieutenant Massey, Barrett was “overcome by exhaustion and malaria” and fell behind his buddies.

Search patrols went out the following day, but could find no trace of Barrett or his equipment. He was reported as missing in action, and ultimately declared dead as of 4 February 1945.