NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) — A Louisiana marine who died 82 years ago during World War II has now had his remains identified, and is planned to be buried on Friday.
According to the Firemen’s Charitable and Benevolent Association, on Sept. 18, 1942, the 7th Marine Regiment arrived on Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. The regiment was ordered to patrol southwest toward Mount Austen.
While patrolling on Sept. 24, the regiment found and defeated a small enemy force, and in doing so, alerted nearby Japanese troops and prompted a large firefight to begin.
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On Sept. 25, 10 fallen marines were buried by their comrades. The 10 were split up, with five buried in a location called “Hill X” and the rest in a location called “Hill Y.”
Searches took place after the war had ended, but Private Randolph Ray Edwards, who was reportedly buried on Hill X, wasn’t found, as the two gravesites were lost.