‘So long, boys’ the story of Corporal Robert J. Powers

During World War II, countless young men answered the call to serve their country, stepping into a world of unimaginable violence, suffering, and devastation.

They faced horrors so overwhelming, that many struggled silently with wounds no one could see. Back then, what we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder or combat-related mental breakdowns were poorly understood, leaving many soldiers to suffer alone in the shadows of war.

Among these shattered souls, unable to bear the weight of relentless trauma and despair, was Corporal Robert James Powers.

Born on Dec. 19, 1915, in the small town of Elma, Iowa, Robert was deeply attached to his mother, Anna Agnes Powers, whose warmth and kindness shaped much of his early life. Robert attended Toledo High School, graduating in 1937, where he was known among his friends as steady and hardworking, quietly preparing for the future.

It was around that time Robert and his family moved to Waterloo, living at 1802 West Third Street. This town felt like home, and Robert was truly happy there. But in 1941, tragedy struck when his mother passed away, leaving Robert with an unbearable pain and a profound sense of loss — a wound that never truly healed.

Driven by a profound sense of duty and a desire to protect the ideals he believed in, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Aug. 19, 1941. Leaving behind the familiar and quiet streets of Waterloo, he embraced military life, and later became a combat engineer with Baker Company, First Battalion, 19th Marines. His training was meant to prepare him physically and mentally for the harsh realities ahead.

Deployed to Guadalcanal in July 1943, Robert faced brutal challenges in one of the Pacific Theater’s most horrendous campaigns. The relentless combat, tropical heat, and constant stress took a heavy toll. Over time, those around him noticed signs of “operational fatigue” and mental strain — symptoms reflecting the invisible wounds inflicted by war. Recognizing his condition, his superiors arranged for Robert to be sent back to the United States aboard the USS Wharton.

Tragically, on Sept. 25, 1943, during the voyage home, Robert took his own life. Corporal Elmer G. McKitrick, a fellow Marine and passenger aboard the ship, recalled that fateful moment: “I was standing on the aft well deck next to the rail, holding a conversation with three fellow passengers, and as I looked up, I noticed Powers standing next to the boat on the starboard side and he looked like he was ready to jump, but I couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t think — couldn’t move fast enough. He turned around just for a second, and speaking to the group of us in general, said, ‘So long, boys,’ and dove over the side.”

Corporal Robert J. Powers was only 27 years old when he made the heartbreaking decision to end his own suffering. Following the war, his name was inscribed at the Honolulu Memorial, Courts of the Missing, honoring his sacrifice and ensuring that his name is never forgotten. At a time when PTSD, exhaustion, and struggles of the mind often went unseen and untreated, Robert never stood a chance against the silent battles so few could understand. Today, it is our solemn duty to remember the young man from Waterloo who went off to war but never came home — and to keep this story alive.

John Dekhane is based in France and often writes tribute articles dedicated to fallen World War II heroes. He works to keep these often-forgotten stories alive.