Stuart was a lumber jack after his High School years. His friends said he could build a fire in the driving rain. Stuart joined the Marines at the outbreak of WWII. USMC service number 338221.
Stuart was trained as a Marine Raider and assigned to 2nd squad H Company 2nd Marine Raiders. Stuart as a young boy sat on a freshly painted toilet seat and his father from then on called him Rainbow. The name stuck. He introduced himself as Rainbow to his squad mates so that is what they called him. For Stuart's actions on November 30, 1942 as a Marine Raider with Carlson's Raiders on Guadalcanal he received the Silver Star. In April 1943, the Raiders were moved to Camp Allard, New Caledonia for training and replacements. Stuart was promoted to Assistant squad leader. His squad, ten men, included Thor Thostenson squad leader, Norm Korsmeyer, Rusty Tratebas, Kenneth Frantz, RD McDowell, Richie Spath, and new members Bill Carroll, Ray Strohmeyer and Ray Merrell. After training a few months the Raiders made the beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. They landed the beach at 7 am November 1, 1943. Several Raiders were killed on the beach including Col. Joe McCaffery. The Raiders pushed into the Bay 300 yards the first day and 500 more yards the second day. The Raiders held the beachhead for four days, and then were ordered on the 7th of November to take the Piva Trail. The Piva Trail was the only route into or out of the jungle-choked eastern end of the Bougainville perimeter.
On November 8th, at daylight Capt. Robert Burnett told Lt. Thomas Daly to send out a squad to see what was in front. 2nd squad H Company got out about 10 to 25 yards and was pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. 1st and 3rd squads, the rest of H Company, came to assist. H Company pushed into the jungle about 250 yards. Incoming mortar fire killed Stuart and bounced Kenneth Frantz off the ground. F and G Raider Companies came in to reinforce. At 4 pm H Company pulled back to set up a line in the rear. 2nd squad members buried Stuart and marked his grave. Raiders were wrapped in their poncho and buried with their boots on. They made a wooden cross, burnt Stuarts name and service number into it and mounted it at the head of his grave. They then placed on the cross Stuarts helmet, cartridge belt and canteen. Ray Merrell said a prayer over Stuart's grave, then took a photo of the grave. On November 10th, Stuart's body was moved to the cemetery by the beach on Bougainville. Stuart's sister was contacted in Gig Harbor Wa. 10-13-1997.
Stuart was trained as a Marine Raider and assigned to 2nd squad H Company 2nd Marine Raiders. Stuart as a young boy sat on a freshly painted toilet seat and his father from then on called him Rainbow. The name stuck. He introduced himself as Rainbow to his squad mates so that is what they called him. For Stuart's actions on November 30, 1942 as a Marine Raider with Carlson's Raiders on Guadalcanal he received the Silver Star. In April 1943, the Raiders were moved to Camp Allard, New Caledonia for training and replacements. Stuart was promoted to Assistant squad leader. His squad, ten men, included Thor Thostenson squad leader, Norm Korsmeyer, Rusty Tratebas, Kenneth Frantz, RD McDowell, Richie Spath, and new members Bill Carroll, Ray Strohmeyer and Ray Merrell. After training a few months the Raiders made the beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. They landed the beach at 7 am November 1, 1943. Several Raiders were killed on the beach including Col. Joe McCaffery. The Raiders pushed into the Bay 300 yards the first day and 500 more yards the second day. The Raiders held the beachhead for four days, and then were ordered on the 7th of November to take the Piva Trail. The Piva Trail was the only route into or out of the jungle-choked eastern end of the Bougainville perimeter.
On November 8th, at daylight Capt. Robert Burnett told Lt. Thomas Daly to send out a squad to see what was in front. 2nd squad H Company got out about 10 to 25 yards and was pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. 1st and 3rd squads, the rest of H Company, came to assist. H Company pushed into the jungle about 250 yards. Incoming mortar fire killed Stuart and bounced Kenneth Frantz off the ground. F and G Raider Companies came in to reinforce. At 4 pm H Company pulled back to set up a line in the rear. 2nd squad members buried Stuart and marked his grave. Raiders were wrapped in their poncho and buried with their boots on. They made a wooden cross, burnt Stuarts name and service number into it and mounted it at the head of his grave. They then placed on the cross Stuarts helmet, cartridge belt and canteen. Ray Merrell said a prayer over Stuart's grave, then took a photo of the grave. On November 10th, Stuart's body was moved to the cemetery by the beach on Bougainville. Stuart's sister was contacted in Gig Harbor Wa. 10-13-1997.
Stuart was a lumber jack after his High School years. His friends said he could build a fire in the driving rain. Stuart joined the Marines at the outbreak of WWII. USMC service number 338221.
Stuart was trained as a Marine Raider and assigned to 2nd squad H Company 2nd Marine Raiders. Stuart as a young boy sat on a freshly painted toilet seat and his father from then on called him Rainbow. The name stuck. He introduced himself as Rainbow to his squad mates so that is what they called him. For Stuart's actions on November 30, 1942 as a Marine Raider with Carlson's Raiders on Guadalcanal he received the Silver Star. In April 1943, the Raiders were moved to Camp Allard, New Caledonia for training and replacements. Stuart was promoted to Assistant squad leader. His squad, ten men, included Thor Thostenson squad leader, Norm Korsmeyer, Rusty Tratebas, Kenneth Frantz, RD McDowell, Richie Spath, and new members Bill Carroll, Ray Strohmeyer and Ray Merrell. After training a few months the Raiders made the beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. They landed the beach at 7 am November 1, 1943. Several Raiders were killed on the beach including Col. Joe McCaffery. The Raiders pushed into the Bay 300 yards the first day and 500 more yards the second day. The Raiders held the beachhead for four days, and then were ordered on the 7th of November to take the Piva Trail. The Piva Trail was the only route into or out of the jungle-choked eastern end of the Bougainville perimeter.
On November 8th, at daylight Capt. Robert Burnett told Lt. Thomas Daly to send out a squad to see what was in front. 2nd squad H Company got out about 10 to 25 yards and was pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. 1st and 3rd squads, the rest of H Company, came to assist. H Company pushed into the jungle about 250 yards. Incoming mortar fire killed Stuart and bounced Kenneth Frantz off the ground. F and G Raider Companies came in to reinforce. At 4 pm H Company pulled back to set up a line in the rear. 2nd squad members buried Stuart and marked his grave. Raiders were wrapped in their poncho and buried with their boots on. They made a wooden cross, burnt Stuarts name and service number into it and mounted it at the head of his grave. They then placed on the cross Stuarts helmet, cartridge belt and canteen. Ray Merrell said a prayer over Stuart's grave, then took a photo of the grave. On November 10th, Stuart's body was moved to the cemetery by the beach on Bougainville. Stuart's sister was contacted in Gig Harbor Wa. 10-13-1997.
Stuart was trained as a Marine Raider and assigned to 2nd squad H Company 2nd Marine Raiders. Stuart as a young boy sat on a freshly painted toilet seat and his father from then on called him Rainbow. The name stuck. He introduced himself as Rainbow to his squad mates so that is what they called him. For Stuart's actions on November 30, 1942 as a Marine Raider with Carlson's Raiders on Guadalcanal he received the Silver Star. In April 1943, the Raiders were moved to Camp Allard, New Caledonia for training and replacements. Stuart was promoted to Assistant squad leader. His squad, ten men, included Thor Thostenson squad leader, Norm Korsmeyer, Rusty Tratebas, Kenneth Frantz, RD McDowell, Richie Spath, and new members Bill Carroll, Ray Strohmeyer and Ray Merrell. After training a few months the Raiders made the beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. They landed the beach at 7 am November 1, 1943. Several Raiders were killed on the beach including Col. Joe McCaffery. The Raiders pushed into the Bay 300 yards the first day and 500 more yards the second day. The Raiders held the beachhead for four days, and then were ordered on the 7th of November to take the Piva Trail. The Piva Trail was the only route into or out of the jungle-choked eastern end of the Bougainville perimeter.
On November 8th, at daylight Capt. Robert Burnett told Lt. Thomas Daly to send out a squad to see what was in front. 2nd squad H Company got out about 10 to 25 yards and was pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. 1st and 3rd squads, the rest of H Company, came to assist. H Company pushed into the jungle about 250 yards. Incoming mortar fire killed Stuart and bounced Kenneth Frantz off the ground. F and G Raider Companies came in to reinforce. At 4 pm H Company pulled back to set up a line in the rear. 2nd squad members buried Stuart and marked his grave. Raiders were wrapped in their poncho and buried with their boots on. They made a wooden cross, burnt Stuarts name and service number into it and mounted it at the head of his grave. They then placed on the cross Stuarts helmet, cartridge belt and canteen. Ray Merrell said a prayer over Stuart's grave, then took a photo of the grave. On November 10th, Stuart's body was moved to the cemetery by the beach on Bougainville. Stuart's sister was contacted in Gig Harbor Wa. 10-13-1997.
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