Robert Edward Schantz
Private Robert E. Schantz served with Easy Company, Second Battalion, 5th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 8 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 340497
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
May 12, 1921
at Lowville, NY
Parents
Joseph P. Schantz (d. 1932)
Blanche Louise (Merriman) Schantz
later Mrs. Norman J. Naber
Education
Grammar school
Occupation & Employer
New York Central Railroad
Service Life
Entered Service
January 12, 1942
at Syracuse, NY
Home Of Record
Route 3
Cazenovia, NY
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Blanche Naber
Military Specialty
—
Primary Unit
E/2/5th Marines
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart (26 September 1942)
with Gold Star (8 October 1942)
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Robert Schantz enlisted in January 1942 spent most of his time in the service as a member of Easy Company, 5th Marines. He saw combat at Tulagi and on Guadalcanal, and was slightly wounded in action along the Matanikau River on 26 September 1942. A piece of shrapnel struck Schantz’s left thigh, but the damage was only superficial; he received treatment in the field and stayed on the line.
On 7 October 1942, Schantz’s battalion left their bivouac to participate in a renewed push against the Matanikau to their west. They took up positions along the riverbank that night, and on the morning of 8 October they moved down towards an established. Japanese troops guarding a fork in the river slowed up the battalion’s progress. At 1640 hours, “heavy gun fire and mortar fire began” in the Easy Company sector, “causing everyone to seek any available cover.” Major David McDougal, the battalion commander, was wounded at this time, as was Corporal Edward Melnitsky.
The only casualty in Easy Company’s ranks that day was Private Schantz, who died of gunshot wounds. While no firsthand accounts of his final moments are known, he was likely killed by the fusillade that wounded McDougal and Melnitsky.
Burial Information or Disposition
Two days after his death, Private Schantz’s body was buried in the field beside the East-West Trail, close to the spot where Vara Creek flows into the Matanikau.
In a cruel twist of fate, Blanche Naber learned of her son’s death before reports of his wounding reached Cazenovia. This led to some confusion and false hope before the matter was finally cleared up.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Blanche Naber.
Location Of Loss
Private Schantz was buried near the banks of Vara Creek. The area is now a residential neighborhood.
All these young lives… on both sides… fighting brutally for what they believed in… I hope somebody eventually comes across this brave young man and brings him home.
I felt it was time to share this. My Mom was Pvt. Schantz’s girlfriend back in the states. I always heard her mention his name and she had saved all the clippings including the confirmation of his death. A couple of years ago, I was going through her things and found his picture. On the back it read “Bobby- first leave 1942.” Then put in with an edit mark and the words in pencil the words : “and last.” It was a punch in the gut. Had this young Marine not been killed, I might never have been born.
At that moment, I vowed to find out everything I could about him, never wanting him to be forgotten. I now post his picture every Memorial Day on social media.
I want to thank the Marines who aided me and guided me to such sites as this and directed me to the memorial, it meant a lot.
Final note: a have a 106 year old uncle who knew him. He said he was a real nice guy with an easy, light sense of humor who worked installing flooring in the Syracuse area before the war.
Mr. Lee,
Thank you so much for posting my Great Uncle’s photo and details about him. My family are all so very grateful. My grandfather was his brother, Russell. For many years we knew very little detail about Robert’s service.
Again, thank you,
Christine Sabino
Ms. Sabino:
I trust that you don’t mind, but I felt the need to post this again on Memorial Day. People tend to trivialize and generalize “sacrifice.”
Your great uncle had been wounded prior to 8 August, so I cannot imagine what his final days, especially his last 48 hours, must have been like.
As they say, freedom is not free.
I do have clippings about the MIA/KIA confusion that my mother saved. Shoukd you wish to have them, contact me at RLee889153@aol.com