Washington –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. John E. Edwinson Jr., killed during World War II, was accounted for September 11, 2024.
In September 1942, Edwinson was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On Sept. 24, he was killed during a firefight with Japanese forces. His body could not be recovered at the time because of the fighting. A burial party was dispatched to the area of “Hill X” and “Hill Y” on Sept. 25 where they quickly buried the Marines who died during the fighting on Sept. 24, including Edwinson, in Grave D.
In late 1944 and early 1945, some of these remains were found and buried elsewhere, but there is no record of Edwinson being among those. American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) began searching Guadalcanal and nearby islands for missing service members in 1947. They made several searches through 1949, but were unable to find Edwinson. He was declared non-recoverable in Aug. 1950.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, or find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or https://www.linkedin.com/company/defense-pow-mia-accounting-agency.