Robert J. McConachie

MC CONACHIE, Robert J.
of Detroit, Michigan Pvt. Robert James McConachie, age 18, was killed in action on, or about, June 15, 1945, on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. McConachie was a member of G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division taking part in the assault of Japanese defensive lines on Kunishi Ridge. His body could not be recovered at the time of his death but his family was notified of his loss and received a letter signed by President Harry S. Truman. Records indicate that there were two U.S. Marines unaccounted-for from that battle. In 1987 skeletal remains were discovered on Kunishi Ridge and sent to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. Since there were no name associations or detailed information about where the comingled remains were recovered, no identification was possible in 1987. Over the years the case went cold; however with the advent of mitochondrial DNA testing and active procurement of family reference samples, the case was reopened in 2012. Over the next two years CIL specialists were able to identify some of the remains received as those of Pvt. McConachie. His family was notified of the CIL findings in July of 2014. Robert was born on May 20, 1927 in Detroit, MI a son of James H. and Rhea Trombley McConachie. With his father's consent, at the age of 17, Robert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on November 10, 1944. Since his death, his parents and a brother, William G. McConachie, have died. His surviving relatives include: a brother, Merrill H. McConachie of Nashville, TN, sister-in-law, Jacquelyn L. McConachie of Kalamazoo, MI; three nephews and their families, Robert Dawn McConachie of Francis Creek, WI, Grant McConachie of Nashville, TN and Col. Andrew Tracy McConachie of Wiesbaden, Germany; four nieces and their families, Rhea Kilgore of Kalamazoo, MI, Robin Michael Merica of Cincinnati, OH, Rebecca Steve Wormer of Bloomingdale, IL and Mary Dan Page of Ann Arbor, MI; and many grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins. A graveside service with military honors is scheduled for 11:00 Monday morning, November 3, 2014 at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Those wishing to attend should be in the cemetery's cortege area by 10:45 Monday morning. Arrangements were made by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel 3926 South 9th Street.