Enlisted on October 1st, 1941
Private First Class, 322364, U.S. Marine Corps
Second Platoon, Company G, Second Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Missing in Action on Guadalcanal
On 26 September 1942, the Second Battalion, 5th Marines attempted to cross Guadalcanal's Matanikau River as part of an offensive aimed at Japanese forces west of the Marine perimeter. G/2/5 attacked through another company that had been fought to a standstill and attempted to cross a sandbar at the river's mouth.
PFC Earl Thresher was one of seven G/2/5 Marines who lost their lives in the failed attack. Their remains were buried together on the western end of the sand spit; subsequent fighting and natural terrain changes over the years obliterated any trace of their graves. (https://missingmarines.com/)
"He was killed on Sept. 26, 1942 when we made three attacks trying to get across the sandspit at the mouth of the Matanikau River. Second Platoon lost Waldron, Hopkins, Kennedy, Thresher, and Vignovich, all on the same day at the same place and quite a few wounded… the platoon was pretty chewed up that day. We never got across the sand spit either, and it was only a few hundred yards long…."
– Edward Newell, G/2/5th Marines
Private First Class, 322364, U.S. Marine Corps
Second Platoon, Company G, Second Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Missing in Action on Guadalcanal
On 26 September 1942, the Second Battalion, 5th Marines attempted to cross Guadalcanal's Matanikau River as part of an offensive aimed at Japanese forces west of the Marine perimeter. G/2/5 attacked through another company that had been fought to a standstill and attempted to cross a sandbar at the river's mouth.
PFC Earl Thresher was one of seven G/2/5 Marines who lost their lives in the failed attack. Their remains were buried together on the western end of the sand spit; subsequent fighting and natural terrain changes over the years obliterated any trace of their graves. (https://missingmarines.com/)
"He was killed on Sept. 26, 1942 when we made three attacks trying to get across the sandspit at the mouth of the Matanikau River. Second Platoon lost Waldron, Hopkins, Kennedy, Thresher, and Vignovich, all on the same day at the same place and quite a few wounded… the platoon was pretty chewed up that day. We never got across the sand spit either, and it was only a few hundred yards long…."
– Edward Newell, G/2/5th Marines
Enlisted on October 1st, 1941
Private First Class, 322364, U.S. Marine Corps
Second Platoon, Company G, Second Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Missing in Action on Guadalcanal
On 26 September 1942, the Second Battalion, 5th Marines attempted to cross Guadalcanal's Matanikau River as part of an offensive aimed at Japanese forces west of the Marine perimeter. G/2/5 attacked through another company that had been fought to a standstill and attempted to cross a sandbar at the river's mouth.
PFC Earl Thresher was one of seven G/2/5 Marines who lost their lives in the failed attack. Their remains were buried together on the western end of the sand spit; subsequent fighting and natural terrain changes over the years obliterated any trace of their graves. (https://missingmarines.com/)
"He was killed on Sept. 26, 1942 when we made three attacks trying to get across the sandspit at the mouth of the Matanikau River. Second Platoon lost Waldron, Hopkins, Kennedy, Thresher, and Vignovich, all on the same day at the same place and quite a few wounded… the platoon was pretty chewed up that day. We never got across the sand spit either, and it was only a few hundred yards long…."
– Edward Newell, G/2/5th Marines
Private First Class, 322364, U.S. Marine Corps
Second Platoon, Company G, Second Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Missing in Action on Guadalcanal
On 26 September 1942, the Second Battalion, 5th Marines attempted to cross Guadalcanal's Matanikau River as part of an offensive aimed at Japanese forces west of the Marine perimeter. G/2/5 attacked through another company that had been fought to a standstill and attempted to cross a sandbar at the river's mouth.
PFC Earl Thresher was one of seven G/2/5 Marines who lost their lives in the failed attack. Their remains were buried together on the western end of the sand spit; subsequent fighting and natural terrain changes over the years obliterated any trace of their graves. (https://missingmarines.com/)
"He was killed on Sept. 26, 1942 when we made three attacks trying to get across the sandspit at the mouth of the Matanikau River. Second Platoon lost Waldron, Hopkins, Kennedy, Thresher, and Vignovich, all on the same day at the same place and quite a few wounded… the platoon was pretty chewed up that day. We never got across the sand spit either, and it was only a few hundred yards long…."
– Edward Newell, G/2/5th Marines
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Kentucky.
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