Raymond Alphonsus "Ray" Rosalik was the son of John and Sofia Rosalik. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and received his early education there. As a teenager, he worked in the CCC Camps (Civilian Conservation Corps) and was still involved in the program when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 12/7/1941.
Ray joined the United States Marine Corps on 1/8/1942 and went through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina with the Eleventh Recruit Battalion. After Ray completed basic training he was assigned to Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. He trained in North Carolina and then departed with his regiment to New Zealand for further training. On 7/16/1942 Ray was promoted to Private First Class.
The Fifth Marines arrived on Guadalcanal on 8/7/1942. On the evening of 8/13, a patrol led by Colonel Frank Goettge had left that area and heavy gunfire could be heard coming from the direction that the patrol had headed. One of the men from that patrol appeared at Division headquarters at 0530. The man reported that the patrol had been ambushed and was pinned down on the beach. The Marine reported he had left the patrol nearly seven hours earlier and had swum almost five miles through the ocean to get back to headquarters and make his report. As a result of this report, Ray's company was soon loaded into a landing craft and at 0650 hours, departed to the site of the ambush. no survivors were found but a large camp of Japanese soldiers was located and during a firefight with the enemy, Ray was killed in action.
Ray's company commander, Captain William P. Kaempfer, wrote the following letter to his mother, Sofia.
"It is with my deepest regret that circumstances do not permit me to personally explain to you the great sacrifice which your son made for our country here on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. While Death can never be satisfactorily explained away to beloved ones, I know that my own mother and father would have some of their grief, at least, transformed into pride if I ever respond to the Lord's call in the same heroic manner that your son has done. That is why I am writing to you now.
Ray was killed in the front line while firing at the enemy. He was protecting the forward advance of other members of his squad so that he and they could drive the enemy from an entrenched position. The enemy was later driven out. To the last Ray obeyed the military orders of his country until a greater order came from Above. More could not be expected of any Marine.
I have talked with those who fought at the side of your son. It is my hope that someday you may do the same. If you do, that which I have so inadequately expressed here will develop into its fullest meaning.
My company and I salute your son and yourself.
With heartfelt sympathy and soldierly pride, I am,
Sincerely yours,
W. P. Kaempfer"
Ray was buried on Guadalcanal but the grave site was lost. He lies there in an unmarked grave known only to God.
Private First Class Raymond Alphonsus Rosalik, Sn# 353798, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
SEMPER FIDELIS!
Ray joined the United States Marine Corps on 1/8/1942 and went through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina with the Eleventh Recruit Battalion. After Ray completed basic training he was assigned to Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. He trained in North Carolina and then departed with his regiment to New Zealand for further training. On 7/16/1942 Ray was promoted to Private First Class.
The Fifth Marines arrived on Guadalcanal on 8/7/1942. On the evening of 8/13, a patrol led by Colonel Frank Goettge had left that area and heavy gunfire could be heard coming from the direction that the patrol had headed. One of the men from that patrol appeared at Division headquarters at 0530. The man reported that the patrol had been ambushed and was pinned down on the beach. The Marine reported he had left the patrol nearly seven hours earlier and had swum almost five miles through the ocean to get back to headquarters and make his report. As a result of this report, Ray's company was soon loaded into a landing craft and at 0650 hours, departed to the site of the ambush. no survivors were found but a large camp of Japanese soldiers was located and during a firefight with the enemy, Ray was killed in action.
Ray's company commander, Captain William P. Kaempfer, wrote the following letter to his mother, Sofia.
"It is with my deepest regret that circumstances do not permit me to personally explain to you the great sacrifice which your son made for our country here on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. While Death can never be satisfactorily explained away to beloved ones, I know that my own mother and father would have some of their grief, at least, transformed into pride if I ever respond to the Lord's call in the same heroic manner that your son has done. That is why I am writing to you now.
Ray was killed in the front line while firing at the enemy. He was protecting the forward advance of other members of his squad so that he and they could drive the enemy from an entrenched position. The enemy was later driven out. To the last Ray obeyed the military orders of his country until a greater order came from Above. More could not be expected of any Marine.
I have talked with those who fought at the side of your son. It is my hope that someday you may do the same. If you do, that which I have so inadequately expressed here will develop into its fullest meaning.
My company and I salute your son and yourself.
With heartfelt sympathy and soldierly pride, I am,
Sincerely yours,
W. P. Kaempfer"
Ray was buried on Guadalcanal but the grave site was lost. He lies there in an unmarked grave known only to God.
Private First Class Raymond Alphonsus Rosalik, Sn# 353798, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
SEMPER FIDELIS!
Raymond Alphonsus "Ray" Rosalik was the son of John and Sofia Rosalik. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and received his early education there. As a teenager, he worked in the CCC Camps (Civilian Conservation Corps) and was still involved in the program when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 12/7/1941.
Ray joined the United States Marine Corps on 1/8/1942 and went through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina with the Eleventh Recruit Battalion. After Ray completed basic training he was assigned to Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. He trained in North Carolina and then departed with his regiment to New Zealand for further training. On 7/16/1942 Ray was promoted to Private First Class.
The Fifth Marines arrived on Guadalcanal on 8/7/1942. On the evening of 8/13, a patrol led by Colonel Frank Goettge had left that area and heavy gunfire could be heard coming from the direction that the patrol had headed. One of the men from that patrol appeared at Division headquarters at 0530. The man reported that the patrol had been ambushed and was pinned down on the beach. The Marine reported he had left the patrol nearly seven hours earlier and had swum almost five miles through the ocean to get back to headquarters and make his report. As a result of this report, Ray's company was soon loaded into a landing craft and at 0650 hours, departed to the site of the ambush. no survivors were found but a large camp of Japanese soldiers was located and during a firefight with the enemy, Ray was killed in action.
Ray's company commander, Captain William P. Kaempfer, wrote the following letter to his mother, Sofia.
"It is with my deepest regret that circumstances do not permit me to personally explain to you the great sacrifice which your son made for our country here on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. While Death can never be satisfactorily explained away to beloved ones, I know that my own mother and father would have some of their grief, at least, transformed into pride if I ever respond to the Lord's call in the same heroic manner that your son has done. That is why I am writing to you now.
Ray was killed in the front line while firing at the enemy. He was protecting the forward advance of other members of his squad so that he and they could drive the enemy from an entrenched position. The enemy was later driven out. To the last Ray obeyed the military orders of his country until a greater order came from Above. More could not be expected of any Marine.
I have talked with those who fought at the side of your son. It is my hope that someday you may do the same. If you do, that which I have so inadequately expressed here will develop into its fullest meaning.
My company and I salute your son and yourself.
With heartfelt sympathy and soldierly pride, I am,
Sincerely yours,
W. P. Kaempfer"
Ray was buried on Guadalcanal but the grave site was lost. He lies there in an unmarked grave known only to God.
Private First Class Raymond Alphonsus Rosalik, Sn# 353798, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
SEMPER FIDELIS!
Ray joined the United States Marine Corps on 1/8/1942 and went through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina with the Eleventh Recruit Battalion. After Ray completed basic training he was assigned to Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. He trained in North Carolina and then departed with his regiment to New Zealand for further training. On 7/16/1942 Ray was promoted to Private First Class.
The Fifth Marines arrived on Guadalcanal on 8/7/1942. On the evening of 8/13, a patrol led by Colonel Frank Goettge had left that area and heavy gunfire could be heard coming from the direction that the patrol had headed. One of the men from that patrol appeared at Division headquarters at 0530. The man reported that the patrol had been ambushed and was pinned down on the beach. The Marine reported he had left the patrol nearly seven hours earlier and had swum almost five miles through the ocean to get back to headquarters and make his report. As a result of this report, Ray's company was soon loaded into a landing craft and at 0650 hours, departed to the site of the ambush. no survivors were found but a large camp of Japanese soldiers was located and during a firefight with the enemy, Ray was killed in action.
Ray's company commander, Captain William P. Kaempfer, wrote the following letter to his mother, Sofia.
"It is with my deepest regret that circumstances do not permit me to personally explain to you the great sacrifice which your son made for our country here on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. While Death can never be satisfactorily explained away to beloved ones, I know that my own mother and father would have some of their grief, at least, transformed into pride if I ever respond to the Lord's call in the same heroic manner that your son has done. That is why I am writing to you now.
Ray was killed in the front line while firing at the enemy. He was protecting the forward advance of other members of his squad so that he and they could drive the enemy from an entrenched position. The enemy was later driven out. To the last Ray obeyed the military orders of his country until a greater order came from Above. More could not be expected of any Marine.
I have talked with those who fought at the side of your son. It is my hope that someday you may do the same. If you do, that which I have so inadequately expressed here will develop into its fullest meaning.
My company and I salute your son and yourself.
With heartfelt sympathy and soldierly pride, I am,
Sincerely yours,
W. P. Kaempfer"
Ray was buried on Guadalcanal but the grave site was lost. He lies there in an unmarked grave known only to God.
Private First Class Raymond Alphonsus Rosalik, Sn# 353798, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
SEMPER FIDELIS!
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Michigan.
Family Members
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