Corporal Anthony Massar, a Marine who was then serving in Company B of the Embassy Guards at Peping, China in December 1940. The 1930's-style enlisted dress blues had no pockets, note corporal chevrons and service stripe ("hashmark") indicating completion of four years of service. Massar joined the Marine Corps in 1934 and went through boot camp at Parris Island in Platoon 37. By 1936 he was a corporal, serving in the Special Service Squadron ("Banana Fleet") and then went to China. When America entered World War II, he served in the 1st Raider Battalion as a sergeant, seeing combat at Tulagi and Guadalcanal in 1942. He was promoted to Platoon Sergeant at New Caledonia in the Raiders in 1943, then transferred to Camp Pendleton, California to join the new 4th Raider Battalion, receiving a promotion to Gunnery Sgt. When the Raider units were deactivated in 1944, he became a Master Gunnery Sgt and served in the new 4th Marines regiment, later was an instructor at the Infantry Schools Battalion at Camp Pendleton. He left the Corps after WWII.
Anthony Massar at Edsons Ridge Click Here
MCL Westchester County Detachment #254 January 1981 Photo Click Here
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From: "Caldara, Lucian"
To: "'usmc_3072@yahoo.com'"
Subject: Re: Edson's Raiders
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 15:17:36 -0400
Don't know if I had mentioned. Gen Lew Walt USMC, former Assistant CMC, was a member of Edson's Raiders in the assault on Guadalcanal. Lew was Anthony's CO (I believe he was a Captain, at the time.
Lew went through 3 wars (WWII, Korea, Viet Nam). He passed away, at the US Naval Home in MS, from Alzheimer's disease. Lew was a friend in his later years, after retirement
Lu Caldara
Thank You - TWS Member Lu Caldaro & MCL Member Detachment 254, Who Has Provided Information for this Memorial. Click on Photo 
At dawn, most of the fighting was over. The Japanese had broken their back in the suicidal charges. These Marines were no ordinary fighting men. They were not the weak, unstable soldiers that had been described to them. On the battlefield, Pfc John Ahrens, an Able Company BAR man, lay dying, soaked in his own blood.
As his company commander, Lew Walt cradled him in his arms, he surveyed the scene around them. Nearby lay a Japanese officer, a sergeant, and thirteen enlisted men, all dead. Ahrens had been shot twice in the chest and bayoneted three times. He whispered to Walt, "Captain, they tried to come over me last night, but I don't think they made it." Choking back tears, Walt replied softly, "They didn't, Johnny. They didn't."
Complete Article Click Here
TWS Memorial Profile - M/Sgt Anthony Massar Click Here
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