U.S. Marine Corps - PEARL HARBOR, GUAM, MIDWAY, WAKE, PHILLIPINES, killed and died, December 1941

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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS CASUALTIES


Part 2 - BY DATE, DECEMBER 1941, including Pearl Harbor, Guam, Midway, Wake, Philippines

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This list of Marine casualties - those who died or were killed - is compiled from the USMC Casualty Cards (mc), supplemented by other sources - click for source abbreviations. For unit abbreviations, see the 'Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations", OPNAV 29-P1000 made available online by Hyperwar.

More information on each casualty is being added to:


The role of the Marine Corps is widely known, but excerpts, in italics with grey background, from the official "Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1935-1946" (mh) by Carolyn A Tyson have been added. These provide a background to the casualties suffered, but have not been cross-checked against the Units under which the Marines are listed.

The emphasis is obviously on the Pacific Theatre, and to set the scene leading up to Pearl Harbor, Marine Corps dispositions in the Pacific are summarised here for 1941.

Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net






1941


EVENTS SHORT OF WAR


January 27, 1941

WASHINGTON: Admiral Stark, CNO, ordered the 3d Defense Battalion to Midway and directed that detachments of the 1st Defense Battalion be established at Johnston and Palmyra and that the 6th Defense Battalion be moved to Pearl Harbor as a replacement and reserve unit for the outposts.


February 1, 1941

USMC: The brigades stationed on the east and west coasts of the U.S. were officially activated as the 1st and 2d Marine Divisions, respectively.


February 3, 1941

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: A Marine Corps airfield was established at Ewa when planes of Marine Aircraft Group 2 arrived from Ford Island. Oahu.


February 14, 1941

MIDWAY: The rear echelon of the 3d Defense Battalion arrived.


February 15, 1941

JOHNSTON: An advance echelon of the 1st Defense Battalion left San Diego on the USS Enterprise for Johnston Island and Palmyra Atoll via Pearl Harbor.


March 3, 1941

JOHNSTON: Two 5-inch guns, six Marines, and two naval corpsmen were set ashore to prepare defenses.


March 18, 1941

SAMOA: The 7th Defense Battalion arrived; it was the first unit of the Fleet Marine Force to serve in the Southern Hemisphere during the Second World War.



April 14, 1941

PALMYRA: A Marine garrison designated Marine Detachment, 1st Defense Battalion, was established for the defense of the island.


April 18, 1941

PACIFIC: In a letter to the CNO stressing the importance of Wake Atoll, Admiral Kimmel, CinCPac, asked that work on Wake's defense be given a higher priority than base construction and that a Marine defense battalion be assigned to the atoll.


June 16, 1941

CONTINENTAL U.S.: An American war plan was promulgated, making almost the whole of the Pacific an American strategic responsibility; it provided for the capture of the Caroline and Marshall Islands and the development of bases at Midway, Johnston, Palmyra, Samoa, and Wake, all having Marine garrisons.


June 23, 1941

WASHINGTON: Admiral Stark, CNO, directed that elements of the 1st Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, be established at Wake "as soon as practicable."


July 24, 1941

JOHNSTON: A Marine garrison designated Marine Detachment, 1st Defense Battalion was established for the defense of the island.


July 26, 1941

PHILIPPINES: President Roosevelt nationalized the armed forces of the Philippines for the duration of the emergency and placed them under the command of General MacArthur, CinCUSAFFE.


August 11, 1941

MIDWAY: Lieutenant Colonel Harold D. Shannon, executive officer of the 6th Defense Battalion, arrived on Midway and immediately began preparations for the relief of the 3d Defense Battalion.


August 19, 1941

WAKE: An advance party from the 1st Defense Battalion arrived on Wake.


September 11, 1941

MIDWAY: The 6th Defense Battalion relieved the 3d Defense Battalion as the atoll's garrison force.


October 15, 1941

WAKE: Major Lewis A. Hohn was relieved as Marine Detachment commander by Major James P. S. Devereux who also became Island Commander.


November 1, 1941

CONTINENTAL U.S.: The 2d Joint Training Force, commanded by Major General Clayton B. Vogel, was commissioned at Camp Elliot, California, and composed of the 2d Marine Division and the 3d Infantry Division, USA; it was the progenitor of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.


November 2, 1941

WAKE: The atoll's garrison was augmented by a draft from the parent 1st Defense Battalion at Pearl Harbor bringing the total Marine strength to 15 officers and 373 enlisted men.


November 19, 1941

MIDWAY: A ground echelon from Marine Aircraft Group 21 was sent to prepare the island for aircraft.


November 26, 1941

PACIFIC: The Japanese Pearl Harbor attack force left the Kurile Islands.


November 28, 1941

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: The air echelon of Marine Fighter Squadron 211, flew 12 F4F-3 fighters from Ewa to Ford Island for further transfer to USS Enterprise and then to Wake.

WAKE: Commander W. S. Cunningham, USN, relieved Major J.P.S Devereux as Wake Island Commander; nine Navy officers and 58 bluejackets arrived as the initial detachment of the Naval Air Station.


November 29, 1941

WAKE: Major Walter L. J. Bayler arrived with a detachment of Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 21 to set up air base communication facilities.


November 30, 1941

PHILIPPINES: USS Madison and Harrison arrived at Olongapo and disembarked the 4th Marines.


December 1, 1941

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: The 2d Defense Battalion and the 4th Defense Battalion, scheduled to be the permanent garrison on Wake Atoll, arrived at Pearl Harbor.

JAPAN: Japanese Destroyer Division 7 sailed from Tokyo with orders to proceed to Midway; this force and a small task unit of the larger fleet on its way to Pearl Harbor were provisionally designated as the Midway Neutralization Unit.


December 4, 1941

WAKE: Twelve F4F-3's of Marine Fighter Squadron 211 arrived on board the USS Enterprise.


December 5, 1941

WAKE: Personnel of Marine Fighter Squadron 211 began daily dawn to dusk patrols from the atoll.




ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR AND WAR


Sunday, December 7, 1941

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: A Japanese carrier force inflicted heavy casualties on the American forces at Pearl Harbor; 2,280 persons were killed and 1,109 wounded, 188 planes were destroyed, and 19 ships sunk. Marine losses on the islands included 111 men killed or missing and 75 wounded and 33 aircraft destroyed and 12 damaged.

MIDWAY: Japanese destroyers Akebono and Ushio bombarded the atoll; the Marine garrison suffered 14. casualties and considerable damage to equipment.

SAMOA: The Commanding Officer of the 7th Defense Battalion ordered his troops to man their positions; the Samoan Marine Reserve Battalion was called to active duty and assigned to reinforce the defenses


ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

Ewa MCAS
LAWRENCE, Edward Stephen, Pfc, 294957, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc) 
LUTSCHAN, William Edward, Jr, Sgt, 253113, H&SSqn21, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc) 
MICHELETTO, Carlo Anthony, Sgt, 271889, VMJ252, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc) 
TURNER, William George, PVT, USMC (ph), DOW 12th (mc)

Pearl Harbor
UNKNOWN, service not known, but presumably including US Marine Corps, listed as numbers 7 to 353 under letter U, ranks not known, WW2, died, December 7, 1941, buried National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI (va)

USS Arizona BB-39, Marine Detachment
AMUNDSON, Leo Devere, Pfc, 309872, killed in action (mc)
ATCHISON, John Calvin, Pvt, 291613, killed in action (mc)
BAILEY, George Richmond, Pfc, 289568, killed in action (mc)
BARAGA, Joseph, Sgt, 269591, killed in action (mc)
BARTLETT, David William, Cpl, 282720, killed in action (mc)
BEATON, Freddie, Pvt, 314538, killed in action (mc)
BELT, Everett Ray, Jr, Pfc, 291740, killed in action (mc)
BLACK, James Theron, Pvt, 314626, killed in action (mc)
BOND, Burnis Leroy, Cpl, 282672, killed in action (mc)
BORUSKY, Edwin Charles, Cpl, 275541, killed in action (mc)
BRICKLEY, Eugene, Pvt, 290538, killed in action (mc)
CHANDLER, Donald Ross, Pvt, 285467, killed in action (mc)
COLE, Charles Warren, Sgt, 269595, killed in action (mc)
DAVIS, Virgil Denton, Pvt, 298403, killed in action (mc)
DAWSON, James Berkley, Pvt, 305840, killed in action (mc)
DELONG, Frederick Eugene, Cpl, 273229, killed in action (mc)
DEVITT, John William, 292333, killed in action, believed declared dead August 10, 1943 (mc), (not listed in other sources)
DREESBACH, Herbert Allen, Pfc, 298404, killed in action (mc)
DUNNAM, Robert Wesley, Pvt, 306243, killed in action (mc)
DURIO, Russell, Pvt, 299280, killed in action (mc)
DUVEENE, John, 1Sgt, 181999, killed in action (mc)
ERSKINE, Robert Charles, Pfc, 298406, killed in action (mc)
EVANS, David Delton, Pfc, 250203, killed in action (mc)
FINCHER, Allen Brady, ACk, 292084, killed in action (mc)
FINCHER, Dexter Wilson, Sgt, 273115, killed in action (mc)
FINLEY, Woodrow Wilson, Pfc, 299051, killed in action (mc)
FITZGERALD, Kent Blake, Pvt, 292824, killed in action (mc)
FLEETWOOD, Donald Eugene, Pfc, 294438, killed in action (mc)
FOX, Daniel Russell, LtCol, 307, killed in action (mc)
GRIFFIN, Lawrence John, Pvt, 295032, killed in action (mc)
HAMEL, Don Edgar, FM, 305354, killed in action (mc)
HARMON, William Daniel, Pfc, 277834, killed in action (mc)
HERRICK, Paul Edward, Pvt, 291621, killed in action (mc)
HOLZWORTH, Walter, MGySgt, 99523, killed in action (mc)
HOPE, Harold Wyatt, Pvt, 314564, killed in action (mc)
HUDNALL, Robert Chilton, Pfc, 287198, killed in action (mc)
HUFF, Robert Glenn, Pvt, 311779, killed in action (mc)
HUGHES, Marvin Austin, Pvt, 306246, killed in action (mc)
HULTMAN, Donald Standly, Pfc, 298688, killed in action (mc)
HUX, Leslie Creade, Pfc, 291867, killed in action (mc)
JERRISON, Donald Dearborn, Cpl, 277521, killed in action (mc)
JONES, Quincy Eugene, Pfc, 289396, killed in action (mc)
KALINOWSKI, Henry, Pvt, 307228, killed in action (mc)
KEEN, Billy Mack, Pvt, 311774, killed in action (mc)
KRAHN, James Albert, Pfc, 275556, killed in action (mc)
LINDSAY, James Ernest, Pfc, 277912, killed in action (mc)
LOVSHIN, William Joseph, Pfc, 283661, killed in action (mc)
MCCARRENS, James Francis, Cpl, 274786, killed in action (mc)
MINEAR, Richard John, Jr, Pfc, 283919, killed in action (mc)
MOSTEK, Francis Clayton, Pfc, 282730, killed in action (mc)
NOLATUBBY, Henry Ellis, Pfc, 286279, killed in action (mc)
O'BRIEN, Joseph Bernard, Pfc, 288408, killed in action (mc)
PATTERSON, Clarence Rankin, Jr, Pfc, 291894, killed in action (mc)
PEDROTTI, Francis James, Pvt, 296891, killed in action (mc)
PIASECKI, Alexander Louis, Cpl, 274983, killed in action (mc)
POWELL, Jack Speed, Pfc, 284047, killed in action (mc)
POWER, Abner Franklin, Pvt, 314537, killed in action (mc)
REINHOLD, Rudolph Herbert, Pvt, 303326, killed in action (mc)
SCHNEIDER, William Jacob, Pvt, 283789, killed in action (mc)
SCOTT, Crawford Edward, Pfc, 298715, killed in action (mc)
SCOTT, George Harrison, Pvt, 290194, killed in action (mc)
SHIVE, Gordon Eshom, Pvt, 283832, killed in action (mc)
SIMENSEN, Carleton Elliott, 2Lt, 6679, killed in action (mc)
SNIFF, Jack Betrand, Cpl, 305320, killed in action (mc)
STEVENSON, Frank Jake, Pfc, 298545, killed in action (mc)
STOVALL, Richard Patt, Pvt, 298787, killed in action (mc)
SWIONTEK, Stanley Stephen, FCk, 281279, killed in action (mc)
SZABO, Theodore Stephen, Pvt, 305655, killed in action (mc)
WEBB, Carl Edward, Pfc, 282719, killed in action (mc)
WEIER, Bernard Arthur, Pvt, 310339, killed in action (mc)
WHISLER, Gilbert Henry, Pfc, 294821, killed in action (mc)
WINDISH, Robert James, Pvt, 303079, killed in action (mc)
WINDLE, Robert England, Pvt, 285460, killed in action (mc)
WITTENBERG, Russell Duane, Pvt, 298731, killed in action (mc)

USS California BB-44, Marine Detachment
BLOUNT, John, Pfc, USMC (nm), DOW 9th (mc)
LEE, Roy Elmer, Jr, Pvt, 295050, killed in action (mc)
SHOOK, Shelby Charles, Pvt, 317475, killed in action (mc)
WALLEN, Earl Delbert, Pfc, 278166, killed in action (mc)

USS Helena CL-50, Marine Detachment
JOHNSON, George Edward, Pfc, 306004, killed in action (mc)
 
USS Nevada BB-36, Marine Detachment
BRITTON, Thomas Alonzo, Cpl, 268898, killed in action (mc)
HEATH, Francis Colston, Pfc, 289350, died of wounds (mc)
KING, Orveil Vaniel, Jr, Pfc, 302254, killed in action (mc)
LUNSFORD, Jack Leon, Pfc, 298421, killed in action (mc)
MORRISSEY, Edward Francis, Pfc, 286776, killed in action (mc)
SMITH, Keith Vodden, PVT, USMC (R) (ph), wounded, DOW on 11th (mc)
TRUJILLO, Richard Ignacio, Pfc, 282168, killed in action (mc)

USS Oklahoma BB-37, Marine Detachment
ARTHURHOLTZ, Marley Richard, Pfc, 288660, killed in action (mc)
BLACK, Waldean, Pvt, 309444, killed in action (mc)
COLLIER, Walter Leon, Pfc, 271385, killed in action (mc)
CREMEAN, Alva Jackson, Pfc, 288850, killed in action (mc)
DREFAHL, Elmer Edwin, Cpl, 284507, killed in action (mc)
GAVER, Harry Hamilton, 2Lt, 6254, killed in action (mc)
HALL, Ted, Pvt, 311258, killed in action (mc)
HENRY, Otis Wellington, Pvt, 286441, killed in action (mc)
HOLMES, Robert Kimball, Pfc, 284571, killed in action (mc)
KEATON, Vernon Paul, Pvt, 309484, killed in action (mc)
MIDDLESWART, John Franklin, Pfc, 305317, killed in action (mc)
PEAK, Robert Hopkins, Pvt, 314300, killed in action (mc)
PENNINGTON, Raymond, Pvt, 316090, killed in action (mc)
TAYLOR, Charles Robert, Pfc, 284217, killed in action (mc)
 
USS Pennsylvania BB-38, Marine Detachment
BARRON, Thomas Noble, Cpl, 287172, killed in action (mc)
NATIONS, Morris Edward, Cpl, 281958, died of wounds (mc)
STEWART, Floyd D, Pfc, 282130, died of wounds (mc)
TOBIN, Patrick Philip, Pfc, 304292, killed in action (mc)
VINCENT, Jesse Charles, Jr., Cpl, 276873, died of wounds (mc)
WADE, George Hollive, Jr, Pvt, 302369, killed in action (mc)


ATTACK ON MIDWAY ISLAND

Midway Island NAS
CANNON, George Ham, 1Lt, 5837, BtryH, MGGrp, 6thDefBn, FMF, died of wounds, Medal of Honor recipient (mc) 
MORRELL, Elmer Rolf, Pfc, 290678, MGGrp, 6thDefBn, FMF, killed in action (mc)


Monday, December 8, 1941

WAKE: Japanese Air Attack Force No. 1, 24th Air Flotilla, based at Roi, bombed Camps One and Two and the airstrip. Seven of eight F4F-3's were destroyed, the airstrip was fired by an exploded 25,000-gallon aviation gas tank, and numerous casualties were sustained.

GUAM: Saipan-based Japanese aircraft bombed the Marine garrison, sank the minesweeper USS Penquin in Apra Harbor and caused extensive damage to installations.

PHILIPPINES: Army air installations on Luzon were attacked by fighters and bombers of the Japanese 11th Air Fleet. A small Japanese force landed on Bataan Island and established an air base.

JAPAN: Vice Admiral N. Inouye, IJN, commander of the Japanese Fourth Fleet at Truk, set in motion war plans calling for the capture and development of Wake, Guam, and certain islands of the Gilberts, among them Makin and Tarawa.

WAKE ISLAND

Marine Corps Aircrew - VMF211, VMSB231, VMSB232
ALLEN, Jack V, 257676, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc)
CONDERMAN, Robert J, 6198, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc)
COOK, Jr, Hal, 295114, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc)
DE SPARR, Marshall Eugene, 288061, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc)
EDWARDS, Robert Powell, 278070, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
FARRAR, Herbert Donald, 273343, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
GRAVES, George Allen, 5590, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
HALEY, Gifford Lavern, 253544, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
HOLDEN, Frank Joseph, 6444, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
KING, Curtis Perryman, 195930, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
KOONTZ, Benjamin Dale, 278326, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
LOCKLIN, Eugene Debb, 255655, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
MCBRIDE, James Earnest, 298766, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
NANNINGA, Henry David, 279617, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
PUCKETT, Ray Vernon, 270036, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
PURVIS, Gordon William, 276037, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
RENNER, Francis John, 275713, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
STOCKTON, Maurice Elwood, 279563, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc)
SUTTON, Mack Pendry, 299627, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
WILSFORD, Clyde Douglas, 275827, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)
WOODRUFF, David Edgar, 290951, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW,  killed in action (mc)

TOKRYMAN, Paul, 260066, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)



Tuesday, December 9, 1941

WAKE: Installations were destroyed and the Naval Air Station on Peale Island and Batteries A and E on Peacock Point were damaged during an air attack by the Japanese 24th Air Flotilla.

GUAM: The island sustained continued bombing by Japanese aircraft.

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

BLOUNT, John Andrew, Jr, Pfc, 281662, MarDet,  USS California, died of wounds (mc)

WAKE ISLAND

Marine Corps Aircrew - VMF211, VMSB232
COUCH, Winslow, 201690, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)
HUNT, Quince Ambrose, 278819, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)
MITWALSKY, Robert William, 279547, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)
TUCKER, William Marion, 278189, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)
ZURCHAUER, Robert Jr, 274800, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, killed in action (mc)



FINLEY, William George, 315653, CoF, 2ndBn, 8thMar, 2ndMarDiv, Camp Elliott, San Diego, Calif, accidental death (mc)



Wednesday, December 10, 1941

WAKE: During a Japanese air attack, a 125-ton dynamite cache was destroyed with major damage to the island's batteries.

GUAM: A Japanese naval landing party of about 400 men from the 5th Defense Force, based on Saipan, landed on Dungcas Beach while elements of the South Seas Detached Force of about 5,500 men made separate landings at Tumon Bay in the north, on the southwest coast near Merizo, and on the eastern shore of the island at Talafofo Bay. Captain George J. McMillan, USN, governor of the island and commander of the Marine garrison, surrendered to the Japanese naval commander.

GILBERTS: Makin Island was seized by a Japanese landing force, and the Imperial Japanese Navy proclaimed Tarawa Atoll occupied.


PHILIPPINES

WETHERINGTON, Thomas Lynwood, Pfc, 266778, CoA, 1stSepMarBn, MarBks, NY, Cavite, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc) 

GUAM

BOMAR, William Wiltshire, Jr, 301427, MarBks, Naval Station, killed in action (mc)
BURT, William Harold, 301270, MarBks, Naval Station, killed in action (mc)

WAKE ISLAND

VENABLE, Alexander Branch Jr., 275333, MarDet, 1stDefBn, Wake Island, killed in action (mc)



BEARD, Hubert Fulton, 242766, MarBks, Naval Supply Dep, Oakland, Calif, accidental death (mc)

BOSS, Mike Joseph, 225716, NavTorpStation, Keyport, Wash, accidental death (mc)
MYERS, Edwin Jesse, 272544, MarBks, NavTorpStation, Keyport, Wash, accidental death (mc)



Thursday, December 11, 1941

WAKE: An attempt to land a force of 450 men from Japanese Destroyer Squadron 6, commanded by Rear Admiral Kajioka, IJN, on Wake and Wilkes Islands was decisively defeated with the loss of two Japanese destroyers; the destroyer Hayate was the first Japanese surface craft to be sunk during World War II by U.S. naval forces. Pilots of Marine Fighter Squadron 211 strafed and bombed the retiring force.

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

SMITH, Keith Vodden, Pvt, 308084, MarDet, USS Nevada, died of wounds (mc)

GUAM

ANDERSON, Harry Edward, 273552, MarBks, Naval Station, Guam, died of wounds (mc)



Friday, December 12, 1941

WAKE: Wake and Peale Islands were bombed and strafed by Japanese patrol bombers from Majuro, but little damage resulted. A Japanese submarine was bombed and possibly sunk by Marine Fighter Squadron 211 25 miles southwest of the atoll.

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

TURNER, William George, Pvt, 303118, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, Ewa MCAS, TH, died of wounds (mc)



FLOYD, Grady Leo, 294606, CoB, 7thMar, 1stMarDiv, MarBks, New River, NC, accidental death (mc)
MCAFEE, Harrison Verne, 269626, MarDet, USS Salt Lake City, accidental death (mc)



Saturday, December 13, 1941,

SMITH, Merle, Jr, 316871, 16thProvMarCo, MarBks, Quantico, Va, died (mc)



Sunday, December 14, 1941

WAKE: Japanese air raids on the atoll by Kawanishi 97 flying boats from Wotje and Roi damaged Camp One and the airstrip; a plane of Marine Fighter Squadron 211 was destroyed leaving the atoll's defenders only one operational airstrip.

WAKE ISLAND

Marine Corps Aircrew - VMF211, VMSB231
DOUBLE, John Fention, 275182, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Ewa, Oahu, Hawaiian Is, killed in action (mc)
GARR, Robert Francis, Jr, 274780, VMSB231, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, Hawaiian Is, killed in action (mc)



Monday, December 15, 1941

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher's Task Force 14, carrying a Marine expeditionary force which included elements of the 4th Defense Battalion and Marine Fighter Squadron 211 left Pearl Harbor on the USS Saratoga, Astoria, and Tangier for the relief of forces on Wake Atoll.



Tuesday, December 16, 1941,

PAYNE, George William, 268862, BksDet, MarBks, NYD, Philadelphia, Pa, died (mc)



Wednesday, December 17, 1941

MIDWAY: Seventeen SB2U-3's from Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 231 arrived unexpectedly from Hickam Field, Hawaii; these obsolescent aircraft executed the longest massed flight overwater of single engine land planes on record (1,137 miles)



Friday, December 19, 1941

WAKE: Japanese bombers from Roi seriously damaged defense battalion facilities at Camp One.

PHILIPPINES

4thMar
LARIOS, Milton Theodore, MSgt, 227199, HqCo, 4thMar, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc) 
THEISE, Walter John, Field Cook, 297170, HqCo, 4thMar, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc) 

1stSepMarBn
FORD, Raymond David, Pvt, 281630, CoA, 1stSepMarBn, MarBks, NY, Cavite, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc) 
FRAZIER, George Garvis, Pfc, 280544, HqCo, 1stSepMarBn, Cavite, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc) 
TULEY, Melvin Oscar, Cpl, 279752, CoA, 1stSepMarBn, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc)



HATT, Thomas Keith, 263791, BksDet, MarBks, NYD, Mare Island, Calif, accidental death (mc)



Saturday, December 20, 1941

WAKE: A U.S. Navy PBY arrived from Midway with information about the relief expedition which included Marine Fighter Squadron 221 and units from the 4th Defense Battalion; this was the atolls first physical contact with friendly forces since the start of the war.

PHILIPPINES: Lieutenant Colonel J. P. Adams, commander of Marines at Cavite, received orders to evacuate the area. CinCAF complied with General MacArthur's request that the 4th Marines at Olongapo be assigned to his command.

CUMMINGS, Bruce Dodge, Pvt, 319809, BtryK, 4thBn, 11thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MarBks, Parris Island, SC, accidental death (mc) 
GABAY, Calvin, 319754, BtryK, 4thBn, 11thMar, 1stMarDiv, MarBks, Parris Island, SC, accidental death (mc)
GOUVEIA, Anibal Correia, 319745, BtryK, 4thBn, 11thMar, 1stMarDiv, MarBks, Parris Island, SC, accidental death (mc)
HEISE, Charles Ryer, 251150, BtryK, 4thBn, 11thMar, MarBks, Parris Island, SC, accidental death (mc)
LANTELME, William Warren, 281905, H&SBtry, 4thBn, 11thMar, 1stMarDIV, MarBks, Parris Island, SC, accidental death (mc)



December 21, 1941,

WAKE ISLAND

WRIGHT, Johnalson Elmer, 211344, MarDet, 1stDefBn, Wake Island, killed in action (mc)



Monday, December 22, 1941

WAKE ISLAND

Marine Corps Aircrew - VMF211
DAVIDSON, Carl Robert, 2Lt, 6371, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, FMF, Oahu, Hawaiian Is, killed in action (mc)



LABEEUW, Edward Joseph, 278017, CoA, MarBks, NYD, Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Is, accidental death (mc)



Tuesday, December 23, 1941

WAKE: The Maizuru Second Special Naval Landing Force executed a predawn landing on the south shore of Wake and Wilkes Islands while carriers Soryu and Hiryu launched air strikes against Wilkes, Peale, and Wake Islands in support of the landing force. After almost 12 hours fighting, all islands had been surrendered. The relief expedition, Task Force 14, was recalled.

PHILIPPINES: General MacArthur decided to withdraw to Bataan.

WAKE ISLAND DEFENCE

1st Defence Battalion, Wake Island
BEDELL, Henry Augustine, 202818, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
GILLEY, Ernest Newton, Jr, 286767, 5thArtyGrp, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
GLEICHAUF, William Anthony, 216544, 5thArtyGrp, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
HALSTEAD, William Charles, 271943, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
HOUDE, Woodrow Armand, 272156, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
MARLOW, Clovis Ray, 277222, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
MARSHALL, Gordon Lee, 286498, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
PICKETT, Ralph Henry, 276277, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
REED, Alvey Augustus, 265682, MarDet, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)
STEVENS, Robert Logan, 286236, 5thArtyGrp, 1stDefBn, killed in action (mc)

Marine Corps Aircrew - VMF211, VMSB232
BOYLE, Hugh Leonard, 283510, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)
COMIN, Howard Dean, 280448, VMSB232, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)
ELROD, Henry Talmage, Maj, 4617, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, FMF, Oahu, Hawaiian Is, killed in action, Medal of Honor recipient (mc)
TAYLOR, Dale Kenyon, 293838, VMF211, MAG21, 2ndMAW, Oahu, killed in action (mc)



WATSON, James Clifton, 289178, MGGrp, 4thDefBn, Pearl Harbor, accidental death (mc)



Wednesday, December 24, 1941

MIDWAY: Reinforcements, including about 100 officers and men from Batteries A and C of the 4th Defense Battalion, arrived from Pearl Harbor.

PHILIPPINES: ..... the 4th Marines was ordered to Corregidor to take over beach defenses there after assembly at Mariveles on the southern tip of Bataan, and the Marine commander was ordered to report immediately to General MacArthur for duty. The new command post of the 4th Marines was opened outside Mariveles, Bataan; the 1st Battalion underwent bombing by Japanese aircraft. 

PHILIPPINES

4thMar
MOORE, Jr, George Seth, 290305, HqCo, 4thMar, killed in action (mc)
POOLE, Gradie Cleveland, 290404, CoD, 4thMar, killed in action (mc)



Thursday, December 25, 1941

MIDWAY: The air echelon of Marine Fighter Squadron 221 arrived from the USS Saratoga retiring from the abortive attempt to relieve Wake Island and immediately began a daily schedule of air search and patrol.



Friday, December 26, 1941

MIDWAY: The island's garrison was augmented by Battery B of the 4th Defense Battalion, an aviation contingent constituting the ground echelon of Marine Fighter Squadron 221, and additional equipment including radar. 

PHILIPPINES: Four hundred and eleven Marines of the battalion at Cavite moved to Corregidor.

ESKRIDGE, James Lee, 275546, MarBks, NAD, Hingham, Mass, accidental death (mc)
ROBINSON, John Richard, 283543, CoL, 3rdBn, 8thMar, SMD, MCB, San Diego, Calif, accidental death (mc)



Saturday/Sunday, December 27/28, 1941

PHILIPPINES: The 4th Marines moved to Corregidor with the exception of Batteries A and C and the radar detachment which remained on Bataan.



Monday, December 29, 1941

PHILIPPINES: The Commanding Officer, 4th Marines assigned beach defense sectors to his battalions, and the troops moved to their new bivouac area.  

PHILIPPINES

4thMar
MURPHY, Verle William, Cpl, 244344, CoH, 2ndBn, 4thMar, Philippine Is, killed in action (mc)  



Tuesday, December 29, 1941

 JOHNSTON: Additional 5-inch and 3-inch batteries and 16 more machine guns with the men to operate them arrived on the island.



Thursday, December 31, 1941

ANCRUM, Calhoun, 12, OIC, Recruitment, Charleston, WVa, died (mc)
PICKENS, Cecil James, 249195, CoD, 6thMar, 1stMarBrigProv, Reykjavik, accidental death (mc)



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revised 5/6/16