World War II Honoree

Randolph Ray Edwards

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

New Orleans, Louisiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FEBRUARY 2, 1942 AND PARTICIPATED IN BASIC COMBAT INFANTRY TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH DELTA COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 7TH MARINE REGIMENT, A SUBORDINATE UNIT OF THE FIRST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GUADALCANAL (INVASION DATES: AUGUST 7, 1942-FEBRUARY 9, 1943), SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN, CODE NAME: OPERATION WATCHTOWER. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1942 HE WAS REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION DURING A FIRE-FIGHT WITH JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. HE IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND IN THE RED MARBLE TABLETS OF THE MISSING INSCRIBED ON THE GUADALCANAL AMERICAN MEMORIAL. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PURPLE HEART, MARINE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THIS AMERICAN PATRIOT WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, WHO SO GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.