World War II Honoree

Robert L. Edwards

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Tampa, Florida

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AUGUST 24, 1940 AND COMPLETED BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE 5TH MARINES DEPOT, QUANTICO MARINE CORPS BASE, QUANTICO VIRGINIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH M COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GUADALCANAL (AUGUST 7, 1942-FEBRUARY 9, 1943) CODE NAME: OPERATION WATCHTOWER, ‘SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN’. IT WAS THE FIRST MAJOR OFFENSIVE BY ALLIED FORCES AGAINST THE JAPANESE. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1942 DURING A COMBAT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE JAPANESE FORCES. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF HIS DEATH AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE IS ALSO MEMORIALIZED AT THE GUADALCANAL AMERICAN MEMORIAL LOCATED ON SKYLINE DRIVE OVERLOOKING THE TOWN OF HONIARA, GUADALCANAL. DECORATION AND CITATION: PURPLE HEART. HE WAS AN AMERICAN PATRIOT, WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.