Little is known about James Rall's early life; he was born in Washington State around the year 1920.
Rall joined the United States Marine Corps on April 25, 1938, and attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. After completing his training, Private Rall joined the Sea and Field Music School at the San Diego base. A few weeks later, he was en route to the nearby Naval Air Station. By November 7 1938, Rall was aboard the USS HENDERSON and on his way to Guam where he was stationed until May, 1941. However, he spent a fair amount of his time in the hospital, which may have influenced his commander's decision to send him back to a Stateside post.
Corporal Rall was in Bremerton, Washington when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was soon transferred from guard duty at the Puget Sound Navy Yard to the Ninth Marines, and was promoted to sergeant. In the spring of 1942, Rall was transferred again, to Company K of the 22nd Marines, stationed with the troops defending American Samoa.
On the evening of August 30, 1942, Rall and Marine Private Ira Kohler obtained permission from their commanding officer to take a break from their duties and go fishing. They hired a local to take them out in his canoe, and were seen pushing off from shore at about 2130 hours.
Neither Marine was ever seen again. It was assumed that they had drowned on their expedition, but no trace of them could be found. It is unknown who the villager was who rented the canoe for the Marines or what happened to him. Rall was declared dead one year and one day later.
James Rall, Sn# 264810, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- American Defense Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic/Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
Rall joined the United States Marine Corps on April 25, 1938, and attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. After completing his training, Private Rall joined the Sea and Field Music School at the San Diego base. A few weeks later, he was en route to the nearby Naval Air Station. By November 7 1938, Rall was aboard the USS HENDERSON and on his way to Guam where he was stationed until May, 1941. However, he spent a fair amount of his time in the hospital, which may have influenced his commander's decision to send him back to a Stateside post.
Corporal Rall was in Bremerton, Washington when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was soon transferred from guard duty at the Puget Sound Navy Yard to the Ninth Marines, and was promoted to sergeant. In the spring of 1942, Rall was transferred again, to Company K of the 22nd Marines, stationed with the troops defending American Samoa.
On the evening of August 30, 1942, Rall and Marine Private Ira Kohler obtained permission from their commanding officer to take a break from their duties and go fishing. They hired a local to take them out in his canoe, and were seen pushing off from shore at about 2130 hours.
Neither Marine was ever seen again. It was assumed that they had drowned on their expedition, but no trace of them could be found. It is unknown who the villager was who rented the canoe for the Marines or what happened to him. Rall was declared dead one year and one day later.
James Rall, Sn# 264810, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- American Defense Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic/Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
Little is known about James Rall's early life; he was born in Washington State around the year 1920.
Rall joined the United States Marine Corps on April 25, 1938, and attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. After completing his training, Private Rall joined the Sea and Field Music School at the San Diego base. A few weeks later, he was en route to the nearby Naval Air Station. By November 7 1938, Rall was aboard the USS HENDERSON and on his way to Guam where he was stationed until May, 1941. However, he spent a fair amount of his time in the hospital, which may have influenced his commander's decision to send him back to a Stateside post.
Corporal Rall was in Bremerton, Washington when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was soon transferred from guard duty at the Puget Sound Navy Yard to the Ninth Marines, and was promoted to sergeant. In the spring of 1942, Rall was transferred again, to Company K of the 22nd Marines, stationed with the troops defending American Samoa.
On the evening of August 30, 1942, Rall and Marine Private Ira Kohler obtained permission from their commanding officer to take a break from their duties and go fishing. They hired a local to take them out in his canoe, and were seen pushing off from shore at about 2130 hours.
Neither Marine was ever seen again. It was assumed that they had drowned on their expedition, but no trace of them could be found. It is unknown who the villager was who rented the canoe for the Marines or what happened to him. Rall was declared dead one year and one day later.
James Rall, Sn# 264810, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- American Defense Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic/Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
Rall joined the United States Marine Corps on April 25, 1938, and attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. After completing his training, Private Rall joined the Sea and Field Music School at the San Diego base. A few weeks later, he was en route to the nearby Naval Air Station. By November 7 1938, Rall was aboard the USS HENDERSON and on his way to Guam where he was stationed until May, 1941. However, he spent a fair amount of his time in the hospital, which may have influenced his commander's decision to send him back to a Stateside post.
Corporal Rall was in Bremerton, Washington when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was soon transferred from guard duty at the Puget Sound Navy Yard to the Ninth Marines, and was promoted to sergeant. In the spring of 1942, Rall was transferred again, to Company K of the 22nd Marines, stationed with the troops defending American Samoa.
On the evening of August 30, 1942, Rall and Marine Private Ira Kohler obtained permission from their commanding officer to take a break from their duties and go fishing. They hired a local to take them out in his canoe, and were seen pushing off from shore at about 2130 hours.
Neither Marine was ever seen again. It was assumed that they had drowned on their expedition, but no trace of them could be found. It is unknown who the villager was who rented the canoe for the Marines or what happened to him. Rall was declared dead one year and one day later.
James Rall, Sn# 264810, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- American Defense Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic/Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge with bar(s)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Washington.
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