Walter L. Minnich

	NAME Walter Lee Minnich				NICKNAME —				MCSN 392484
	HOME OF RECORD 515½ North High Street, Martinsburg, WV					NEXT OF KIN Father, Mr. Amos C. Minnich
	DATE OF BIRTH January 15, 1924				DATE OF ENLISTMENT May 4, 1942			DATE OF LOSS November 22, 1942
	REGION Solomons	CAMPAIGN / AREA Guadalcanal		CASUALTY TYPE Killed In Action			UNIT F/2/8th Marines			DUTY —
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS On 22 November 1942, units of the Army’s Americal Division and the 8th Marine Regiment began a series of frontal attacks on a string of hills along the north coast of Guadalcanal. Steep ravines, bare ridges, and tenacious Japanese resistance thwarted the Americans, and after 48 hours the operation was called off. Nearly 40 members of the 8th Marines lost their lives in the futile assault.*One of their number was Private Walter Minnich, killed in action on 22 November 1942. His body could not be recovered from the field.
INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Purple Heart					LAST KNOWN RANK Private
STATUS OF REMAINS Not recovered					MEMORIALS Rosedale Cemetery, Martinsburg, WV Manila American Cemetery

* Note: Official sources and several histories report that the 8th Marines suffered nine fatal casualties. However, this number only accounts for those Marines who were buried in the island cemetery. It excludes fully 29 men who were reported missing in action or buried in the field.

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