World War II Honoree

Frank Bryan Goettge

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Kent, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: COLONEL. SERVED AS CHIEF INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WITH HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GUADALCANAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1942 CODE NAME: OPERATION WATCHTOWER, ‘SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN’. KILLED IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1942 DURING A RECONNAISSANCE PATROL, CONSISTING OF TWENTY-FIVE MARINES ON THE MATANIKAU RIVER BEACH NEAR THE POINT CRUZ PENINSULA. THE PURPOSE OF THE MISSION WAS TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS THAT A NUMBER OF JAPANESE FORCES WERE WILLING TO SURRENDER TO THE AMERICANS. THE PATROL WAS AMBUSHED AND ANNIHILATED BY A GARRISON OF JAPANESE SOLDIERS, WITH TWO SURVIVORS, WHO MANAGED TO SWIM BACK TO FRIENDLY LINES. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1943 AND MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND THE GUADALCANAL AMERICAN MEMORIAL LOCATED ON GUADALCANAL. A MEMORIAL HEADSTONE AS BEEN PLACED IN THE STANDING ROCK CEMETERY, KENT, OHIO IN HIS HONOR. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: LEGION OF MERIT, PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL. THE LEGION OF MERIT WITH THE COMBAT DISTINGUISHING DEVICE WAS AWARDED TO THE COLONEL FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS CONDUCT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OUTSTANDING SERVICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS. THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.