TFH 11/23: Three Marines, Two Enemy Machine Guns on Guadalcanal

The 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment was a comparative newcomer to the Guadalcanal Campaign, beginning combat operations ashore with the 2nd Marine Division on November 2, 1942.

On November 23, 1942, two Japanese machine guns blocked the advance of 1/8. Three young United States Marines volunteered to take them out. 19-year old (born April 27, 1923) Private Clarence Lee Evans hailed from Saginaw, Missouri and had enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on May 31, 1941. Private William F. Richey came from Tyler, Texas.

The name of the third Devil Dog is lost to history. It's not known what if any recognition he received for the attack, but both Evans and Richey - one who lost his life that day, one two days later - were posthumously decorated with the United States' second-highest award for valor: the Navy Cross.


Navy Cross Citation for Private Clarence Lee Evans:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private Clarence Lee Evans (MCSN: 309045), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Eighth Marines (Reinforced), SECOND Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Island, on 23 November 1942. Knowing that it was impossible for his comrades to advance as long as two enemy machine guns which were holding a commanding position remained in action, Private First Class Evans with two other Marines volunteered to dislodge these guns. Fighting his way through a hail of enemy bullets up to a position where he could throw hand grenades into the hostile machine-gun nest, he killed three Japanese and assisted in capturing the gun. From this position, he threw more grenades at the second emplacement and silenced that gun. Two days later, while continuing his dauntless fight against the enemy, he was killed by a burst of machine-gun fire. His inspired acts of valor, in the face of almost certain death, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.

The Cannon-class destroyer escort USS Clarence L. Evans (DE-113) (sponsored by a Mrs. E. E. Evans, likely the Marine's mother) served the United States Navy from June 1944 until May 1947. She was transferred to the French Navy under a military loan program in 1952. The ship was scrapped in 1960.


Navy Cross Citation for Private William F. Richey:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private William F. Richey (MCSN: 324137), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Eighth Marines (Reinforced), SECOND Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Island, on 23 November 1942. Knowing that it was impossible for his comrades to advance as long as two enemy machine guns which were holding a commanding position remained in action, Private Richey with two other Marines volunteered to dislodge them. Fighting his way through a hail of machine-gun and sniper fire up to an advantageous position, he threw hand grenades into the enemy emplacement, silencing the gun. Rushing the position, he repeated the process, silencing the second gun. While returning to our lines with a captured machine gun, he was killed. His inspired acts of valor, in the face of almost certain death, were instrumental in breaking the deadlock with the enemy and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.


1st Battalion, 8th Marines continues as part of the present day 2nd Marine Division. Their home station is Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.