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Company E, 2d Battalion, 8th Marines was established on 01 April 1941 at Camp Elliott, California.

Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor on 07 December 1941, Company E and the 2d Battalion, 8th Marines briefly defend the California coast. On 06 January 1942, Company E boarded the USS Matsonia and departed for Tutuila, American Samoa, arriving on 20 January 1942. Upon arrival, Company E established a coastal defense.

On 25 October 1942, Company E, now commanded by Captain Thomas J. Webster, boarded the USS Barnett and departed for Guadalcanal to reinforce the embattled 1st Marine Division. From November through January Company E conducted offensive and defensive operations west of Henderson Airfield in the vicinity of the Matanikau River and Point Cruz. During those three months ashore Company E sustained six wounded and five killed in actions, including Captain Webster who was wounded on 4 January 1943 and succumbed to his wounds on 16 January aboard the USS Solace. Following his death, Captain Robert J. Oddy was moved from Headquarters and Services Company and took command of Company E. On 09 February, Company E departed Guadalcanal for Wellington, New Zealand, arriving on 16 February.