Robert Lornine Russell
Corporal Robert L. Russell served with Item Company, Third Battalion, 2nd Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 25 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 316016
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 13, 1923
at Santa Monica, CA
Parents
Thomas Franklin Russell (d. 1934)
Frances Georgina (Rose) Russell
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
July 5, 1941
at Los Angeles, CA
Home Of Record
Inglewood, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Frances Pulley
Military Specialty
If known—
Primary Unit
I/3/2nd Marines
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
October 25, 1942, was known as “Dugout Sunday” on Guadalcanal. Japanese forces, intent on recapturing Henderson Field, launched incessant naval, air, and artillery strikes against American lines. Every man who could stay put sheltered in his foxhole, but other units had to shift locations to prepare for an expected infantry attack. The First Battalion, 7th Marines, and Third Battalion, 164th Infantry held the southern part of the perimeter; the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines – including Item Company and Corporal Robert L. Russell – were stationed behind them in reserve.
That night, troops under General Yumio Nasu unsuccessfully attacked the position and retreated after suffering enormous casualties. A regimental report from the 2nd Marines notes that 3/2 “manned battle positions all night” but makes no mention of enemy contact.
Russell was killed in action by a mortar strike during the day’s activities. Unfortunately, the exact circumstances of his death are not known.
Burial Information or Disposition
According to the Item Company muster roll and Marine Corps casualty records, Russell’s body was recovered “but due to battle conditions was buried in First Marine Division Cemetery, Guadalcanal, Grave number unknown.”
Three other Marines from Russell’s company were killed on 25 October:
Private LuVerne H. Trimborn (gunshot wounds) was buried at an unknown place “in the field.” He was found and identified in August, 1943.
PFC Norman E. Boehlke (mortar shrapnel) was buried as an unknown in Row 43, Grave 8. He was identified as “X-20” in 1943.
Corporal Roscoe Kincaid (mortar shrapnel) was buried with identification in Row 43, Grave 10.
Boehlke’s Individual Deceased Personnel File notes that “his body was recovered but due to battle conditions he was buried in the First Division Cemetery before identification could be made” – almost identical to Corporal Russell. And there was an unknown Marine – Guadalcanal X-19 – buried in Row 44, Grave 4, on the same day. Anthropologists described X-19 as “a tall (6’0″) young man with light golden brown hair,” weighing about 160 pounds. He was found with a pair of service shoes size 10.5 and a belt buckle; an ID tag for Private Clarence E. Ables was posthumously placed with the remains.
If a physical description of Corporal Russell can be found, he may potentially be a match for Unknown X-19.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Frances Pulley.
Location Of Loss
Corporal Russell was killed in action at an unspecified location on Guadalcanal.
