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PRIVATE
CHARLES "BUD" RANGER
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Charles Ranger proudly served his country as a Marine, never seeking recognition for putting his life in danger during one of the hardest-fought battles of World War II. Charles "Bud" Ranger was born in El Monte, California on May 31, 1925, the son of Sumner and Golden Ranger. He spent his youth in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, graduating from Wilson High School in 1943, after which he joined the United States Marine Corps. Ranger and his fellow Marines fought on the most famous volcanic island of the South Pacific during the bloodiest battle of World War II, Iwo Jima. Ranger landed with the Second Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, Fifth Marine Division in the first wave on February 19, 1945 and suffered a crippling injury to his left leg from a mortar round on February 22nd. Upon his recovery and return to civilian life, Ranger settled again in the city of Long Beach. He met his future wife, Ruth, at the Long Beach Ski Club and settled into family life as an aerospace engineer at North American Aviation (later Rockwell International and Boeing). After a 30 year career, Ranger retired and moved with his wife to Ashland, Oregon, where he continued with his outdoor passions for fishing and shooting. In his later years, after the death of his wife, he returned to Southern California and settled into the community of Huntington Beach with his long time partner, Marianne Le Masters. Charles Ranger passed away on February 16, 2013. A member of what journalist Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation," he was 87. He is survived by his son, Brian (Karen); daughter, Susan; niece, Dianne (Bill) and nephew ,John (Debbie), along with grandchildren Ashley, Michael and Megan.
Story, photo and article submitted by his son, Brian Ranger.
Story, photo and article submitted by his son, Brian Ranger.
CORPORAL
HAROLD E. REYNOLDS
27TH MARINE REGIMENT / VICTOR, MONTANA
Harold Edward Reynolds was born on October 18, 1924 in Emmett, Idaho. He lived with his parents Lewis and Ida in Emmett for two years after he was born, then they moved to Victor, Montana. He grew up in Victor, where he went to Victor Grammar School and then went to Victor High School where he graduated from in 1943. He had 3 brothers - Alvin, Adelbert, and Richard, and 2 sisters – Marjorie and Dorothy. Harold enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 5, 1943 immediately after he graduated High School, and attained the rank of Corporal. He served in the Marine Corps as a Machine Gunner during WWII as part of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Division, 27th Regiment, Fox Company, which was part of the battle for Iwo Jima. During the battle he was hit with shrapnel in his hand and later on, on the back of his neck, and was awarded a Purple Heart for both injuries. The second injury was the most severe though; he said he was watching the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi and was “hit”. He woke up in a ship’s hospital and was taken to Hawaii to recuperate and was there for 3 months. When Harold had fully recovered from his wounds, he was sent back to Iwo Jima to join his unit in order to get ready for the planned occupation of Japan. His regiment was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan on November 8, 1945, but the Japanese surrendered on August 14, 1945 as a result of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The 27th Marines were sent into Japan as occupation forces instead. When troops went in there later, they found gun "emplacements" everywhere; in all the rice paddies, farms, barns, everywhere. The Japanese army was ready for them and would have surprised the Americans, who weren't expecting much of a fight. Harold said, "there are a lot of things to remember about the war; it wasn't any fun, but it had to be done." Harold returned to Camp Pendleton at the end of 1945 and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp on January 4, 1946. After he was discharged, he returned to Darby, Montana for several months and went to work for his brother-in-law, Harold Irwin, who had his own logging business there.
Harold and his wife-to-be, Roxaine Carter, were married 1 minute after midnight on January 1, 1947. The service began at 11:55 and ended at 12:05. The Seattle Times carried an article about the wedding being the first one of the New Year. Harold and Roxaine went on the Princess Marguerite to Victoria for their honeymoon. Roxaine had also enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was sworn in in 1945 and had orders to report to basic training in North Carolina (Camp Lejeune). She was to leave August 17, 1945, but she never left home due to the Japanese surrendering. She got her discharge papers and discharge button mailed to her home.
In 1947 Harold went to the University of Washington. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for a while. He worked for Sunshine Bakery, and later on he went to Arlington Aeronautical School becoming an Engine Mechanic. He got a job with the Boeing Company in May 1950, where he worked for 38 years holding various positions, including working at the Boeing plant in Wichita, Kansas. He retired from Boeing as a 1st level Supervisor in the Industrial Engineering group. During the course of his career at Boeing he worked on many different aircraft: the 707 (Dash-80), 727, 737, 747, 757, and 767 aircrafts and derivatives. During his retirement he enjoyed playing volleyball at the Renton Senior Center, playing softball on a senior’s league, working in his garden, taking his daily walks around his home, and travelling with his wife. Harold died on April 11, 2004.
The flag is an Iwo Jima souvenir signed by the Marines of Fox Company 2/27. Here is a list of the names that have been found on the flag: Harold E. Reynolds, Harold Buckner, Bill (William R.) Wick, LeRoy Oder, Utah V. Price, Roy C. McGuirk, Gerald O. Dove, R.T. (Robert T.) Ward, Frank E. Bolen, Wilbur Paxton, C. (Clarence) A. Milburne, David J. McKinnon, D. (Donald L.) Pitcock, David Hiles, Tage Pierce, Ralph M. Mallardi, William W. Hoffer, William Almond, Lon O. Ghaster, Bill (William R.) Seaman, Leroy Pannell, B. Wilburne, William O. Stark, Eddie Wooten, Earl J. LaBreche, Paul C. Morris, Edward H. Miller, Henry H. Hughes, Bill Traeger, Paul Baker, Robert M. Pray, William F. Cain, Irving Comet, James R. French, Vester N. Pruitt, Jr., Charles D. Smith, Richard Krig, Willard J. Torbeck, Vincent Von Fricken, H. (Harold) Jewell.
Photos and story submitted by his son, Don Reynolds.
Harold and his wife-to-be, Roxaine Carter, were married 1 minute after midnight on January 1, 1947. The service began at 11:55 and ended at 12:05. The Seattle Times carried an article about the wedding being the first one of the New Year. Harold and Roxaine went on the Princess Marguerite to Victoria for their honeymoon. Roxaine had also enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was sworn in in 1945 and had orders to report to basic training in North Carolina (Camp Lejeune). She was to leave August 17, 1945, but she never left home due to the Japanese surrendering. She got her discharge papers and discharge button mailed to her home.
In 1947 Harold went to the University of Washington. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for a while. He worked for Sunshine Bakery, and later on he went to Arlington Aeronautical School becoming an Engine Mechanic. He got a job with the Boeing Company in May 1950, where he worked for 38 years holding various positions, including working at the Boeing plant in Wichita, Kansas. He retired from Boeing as a 1st level Supervisor in the Industrial Engineering group. During the course of his career at Boeing he worked on many different aircraft: the 707 (Dash-80), 727, 737, 747, 757, and 767 aircrafts and derivatives. During his retirement he enjoyed playing volleyball at the Renton Senior Center, playing softball on a senior’s league, working in his garden, taking his daily walks around his home, and travelling with his wife. Harold died on April 11, 2004.
The flag is an Iwo Jima souvenir signed by the Marines of Fox Company 2/27. Here is a list of the names that have been found on the flag: Harold E. Reynolds, Harold Buckner, Bill (William R.) Wick, LeRoy Oder, Utah V. Price, Roy C. McGuirk, Gerald O. Dove, R.T. (Robert T.) Ward, Frank E. Bolen, Wilbur Paxton, C. (Clarence) A. Milburne, David J. McKinnon, D. (Donald L.) Pitcock, David Hiles, Tage Pierce, Ralph M. Mallardi, William W. Hoffer, William Almond, Lon O. Ghaster, Bill (William R.) Seaman, Leroy Pannell, B. Wilburne, William O. Stark, Eddie Wooten, Earl J. LaBreche, Paul C. Morris, Edward H. Miller, Henry H. Hughes, Bill Traeger, Paul Baker, Robert M. Pray, William F. Cain, Irving Comet, James R. French, Vester N. Pruitt, Jr., Charles D. Smith, Richard Krig, Willard J. Torbeck, Vincent Von Fricken, H. (Harold) Jewell.
Photos and story submitted by his son, Don Reynolds.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
OTIS AL REYNOLDS, JR.
13TH MARINE ARTILLERY / YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
This story is from his son, Lon Reynolds. Otis Albert "Red" Reynolds, Jr. was born in Yakima, Washington on April 22 1922. Dad had a pilot's license after the war. He worked from maybe 1960 to his death in '72 (Hodgins Disease) for Kroger Foods Co, back when nobody knew what that was out West. He was the sole purchasing agent up and down the coast from Bellingham to Yuma, AZ. From 1960 to 1965 my mom, sister Kay (born in 1957) and I would take the train down to where he was, after school let out. He was always in California in the summers buying traincar loads of cantaloupes, grapes, lettuce, etc. He married once before the service, then married mom in '54, divorced '59, remarried '60, redivorced '66. Then married a much younger woman in about '70. Neither she nor my mom ever heard about anything that happened during the War; he was very, very closed-mouthed about it. Hints that he'd behaved badly during the Occupation in Sasebo in Japan, stuff he wasn't proud of. Not horrible; just stuff like trashing stuff in a store, nothing violent. He was not violent, but had a bad temper. Never touched us kids, not once. We were not close. After second divorce from mom, I saw him very rarely. He hated my long hair, I didn't give him much of a thought. We hunted duck and pheasant those grade-school years when we were a 4-person family. Not much other activity together; fishing, TV, the usual. Probably not that different from a lot of basically Protestant white families in the '60s. My Younger sister Madeline Allen died a couple years back. I remember something about getting a round or shrapnel in his thigh. He had a Japanese bayonet with dried blood on it, which I saw exactly once, and his M1, I think. I don't think he was one of those guys who relives the "glory days"; I can, through a lot of research, begin to appreciate the horror of Iwo. But you had to have been there, I guess. They saved the planet, I really believe that, and I'm a total liberal peace-nik. I would not have gone to 'Nam, and my lottery no. was SIX the month I turned 18. Then they ended Selective Service. I'd really like to hear any accounts, day-to-day, columns, etc. about either Iwo or the Occupation or both. I'm proud as hell of his service; people my age aren't commonly aware of what it all meant. I've talked to a lot of vets and read a ton of books and seen many documentaries on WWII, and I know we came this close to a successful V2 program with advanced guidance that would have changed everything were it not for the Nazis running low on men, matériel and money. The image below is one of five watercolor paintings that dad had in his stuff. I framed them in poplar and they are very nice.
Story submitted by his son, Lon Reynolds.
Story submitted by his son, Lon Reynolds.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
WINIFORD DAUNE "DON" SAMS
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / MISSOURI
3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
Don Sams died on May 5, 2013
Photo submitted by his daughter, Vicki Sams Corrick.
Don Sams died on May 5, 2013
Photo submitted by his daughter, Vicki Sams Corrick.
1ST LIEUTENANT
HAROLD G. SCHRIER
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / CORDER, MISSOURI
I would like to give you the tale of my uncle Harold George Schrier. Hal joined the Marine Raiders in April 1942. He went to Midway and was the first Raider to be decorated for heroic achievement. At Guadalcanal he was in the long patrol - 37 days behind enemy line. In June 1943, he led two separate reconnaissance missions and marked landing beaches on Vangunu Island and was the youngest officer to be awarded the Legion of Merit. At the landing on Bougainville he was the HQ Defense Coordinator. At Iwo Jima, Schrier was picked by Col. Liversedge to lead a patrol up Mount Suribachi. After the war he appeared as himself in the John Wayne movie, "Sands of Iwo Jima". In the Korean War he was Adjutant of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade at the Pusan Perimeter and for this he was awarded a Bronze Star. At Inchon, his company's assult on Wolmi Do Island initiated the Inchon invasion. At the Chosin Reservoir, he led the breakout south after his company broke off their attack with the Chinese. He turned around and led his company 180 degrees down the road. He was wounded two times on December 1, 1950 during a hill fight 1520. That morning only twenty men and one officer were left standing out of I company.
Story submitted by his nephew, John David Eaton.
Story submitted by his nephew, John David Eaton.
GUNNERY SERGEANT
VERNON L. SEAMAN
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / NORWALK, CONNECTICUT
Gunnery Sergeant Vernon Lee Seaman was born August 23, 1919 in Kilbourne, Louisiana. He was the son of Reuben and Ethel Womack Seaman. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in April 1938 and served throughout the continental U.S. at every major Marine Corps post and station during a 22 year career in the Corps. He was also stationed in Hawaii, Japan, China and Korea during his years of service. Vernon was a member of F Company, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division during the battle for Iwo Jima. After 22 years of active duty he transferred to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve for 10 years. He was married to Alice E. Kennedy Seaman and had one son, Brian, and one daughter, Alyce. He worked for Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Norwalk for 21 years and was a 32nd degree mason. He passed away on October 20, 1982 at the age of 63.
Story submitted by his nephew, Jeff Pate.
Story submitted by his nephew, Jeff Pate.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
"CAL" STEGEN
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Private First Class Charles Arthur Leonard "CAL" Stegen served as a communications specialist (Telephones) on Iwo Jima with his boss, Private First Class Charles "Charley" Thompson. Both men were from the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in St. Louis. They were drafted together and remained in the same unit throughout their service. They also volunteered as "tunnel rats" before it became a popular term from Viet Nam, scouting out Japanese soldiers hiding in dark caves and tunnels, sniping at Marines. Both men also served in the occupation of Japan (Sasabo Naval Base next to Nagasaki). Although both made it through the battle of Iwo Jima unharmed, "CAL" Stegen was later killed in a car accident near Louisville, KY and Charley Thompson lost a leg in a work related accident.
Story submitted by Steve Stegen.
Story submitted by Steve Stegen.
HOSPITAL APPRENTICE FIRST CLASS
JOE TENYER, JR.
5TH MEDICAL BATTALION / DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Joseph (Joe) Tenyer, Jr., was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 19, 1924, to Barbara and Joseph Tenyer, Sr. He attended Marine City High School in Marine City, Michigan until he enlisted in the US Navy on December 9, 1942. At the time of his enlistment in the Navy, Joe was 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 133 pounds.
Joe entered recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center on May 18, 1943, and completed recruit training June 29, 1943. Joe attended Hospital Corps School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center completing the course of instruction in September 1943. On November 11, 1943, Joe was transferred to the Medical Field Service School at Camp Lejeune, NC for further training and assignment. He completed the training January 28, 1944, and was assigned to Company E, 5th Medical Services Battalion, 5th Marine Division. Joe joined the 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA and on September 28, 1944, arrived in Hilo, Hawaii. Joe embarked aboard the USS Highlands on December 31,1944, and disembarked on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, and was on the island until March 27, 1945. He subsequently was a member of the occupation force at Sasebo, Japan from September 22, 1945, until December 6, 1945, when he transferred to San Diego, CA for discharge in 1946.
After the war, Joe made his home in Southern California and married in 1947 and had four children with his wife Elizabeth (Betty). He was called up again for service during the Korean War and later began a career as a building contractor. In September 1966, Joe tragically died in a construction accident.
Story submitted by his son-in-law, Tony Majewski.
Joe entered recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center on May 18, 1943, and completed recruit training June 29, 1943. Joe attended Hospital Corps School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center completing the course of instruction in September 1943. On November 11, 1943, Joe was transferred to the Medical Field Service School at Camp Lejeune, NC for further training and assignment. He completed the training January 28, 1944, and was assigned to Company E, 5th Medical Services Battalion, 5th Marine Division. Joe joined the 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA and on September 28, 1944, arrived in Hilo, Hawaii. Joe embarked aboard the USS Highlands on December 31,1944, and disembarked on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, and was on the island until March 27, 1945. He subsequently was a member of the occupation force at Sasebo, Japan from September 22, 1945, until December 6, 1945, when he transferred to San Diego, CA for discharge in 1946.
After the war, Joe made his home in Southern California and married in 1947 and had four children with his wife Elizabeth (Betty). He was called up again for service during the Korean War and later began a career as a building contractor. In September 1966, Joe tragically died in a construction accident.
Story submitted by his son-in-law, Tony Majewski.
PHARMACIST'S MATE THIRD CLASS
ALBERT VAINI
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / MARK, ILLINOIS
Son of Frank & Anna Vaini.
Born November 21, 1932. Died December 1, 1993.
E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines
Submitted by his son, Rick Vaini.
Born November 21, 1932. Died December 1, 1993.
E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines
Submitted by his son, Rick Vaini.
CORPORAL
JOHN H. VELEZ
11TH AMPHIBIAN TRACTOR BATTALION / ROCKSPRINGS, TEXAS
John Hernandez Velez, like many other Americans of his day, was born into what eventually came to be known as the Greatest Generation. He was born four years before the Great Depression in Edwards County, Rocksprings, Texas in an area that is well known as the wool and mohair center of the State of Texas. He was born May 15, 1925, to Sabino and Maria Hernandez Velez. His father Sabino Velez, known as Chapo, was a working cowboy for the United States Army. He attended school at Rocksprings, Texas and learned the work and trade of shearing sheep and goats for their wool and mohair. December 1941 the country was at war and several members of Edwards County were called to serve in the war effort. In early 1942, at the age of 17 his parents moved to Knox County and began the transition of working the land and becoming farmers. As the war continued to escalate, he convinced his father that he was going to be drafted and that he wanted enlist. He left Benjamin, Texas in Knox County with his friend Sam Carpenter and they both entered the United States Marines on November 22, 1943. He completed basic training in San Diego and on June 24, 1944 he and his friend were moved to Hawaii with the Fifth Marine Division for amphibious training. When they arrived at Hawaii, they were asked who had farming experience and he raised his hand. Farmers who had experience operating farm equipment were trained as Amtrak tank operators. An Amtrak had three operators and could carry about 27 Marines.
The amphibious training continued on the island of Hawaii until the month of January when they boarded ship. They still did not know where they were going but after they had been at sea for several days they were told that their destination was the island of Iwo Jima. Pre-landing bombardment on Iwo Jima started on February 16, 1945 and continued for three days utilizing several battleships including the Arkansas, the New York, the Texas, the Nevada, the Idaho, the Tennessee, the North Carolina, the Washington, the West Virginia and several cruisers. The landing on Iwo Jima was on a Monday, February 19, 1945 at 1000 Hrs. His Amtrak and the 27 Marines he carried went in on the second wave and other waves of Marines came in 10 to 20 minutes apart. On February 23 at 1020 hrs, he recalls the noise coming from the ships as they blew their horns, fired their small guns and the cheers from the Marines as they looked toward Mt. Suribachi and saw the flag raising. Mr. Velez was on Iwo Jima for 36 days and left the island on March 26, 1945. He saw his friend, Sam Carpenter on March 22, 1945 and they talked about their plans to leave the island. Sadly, Sam Carpenter was killed on March 25, 1945.
The Fifth Marine Division came back to Hawaii and started training for the invasion of main land Japan. After the war ended, Mr. Velez was discharged from the Marine Corp on April 5, 1946, at McCallister, Oklahoma. He received his last pay of $100.00 and a bus ticket of $17.30 and he came home. He married Ramona Rivas Velez on June 9, 1946. They had eight children, have several grand children and great grand children. He is a lifetime VFW member and a member of VFW Post 4747 and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He has never forgotten his flag, his country, or his friend Sam Carpenter. And still today he wonders why he was allowed to walk off the island of Iwo Jima. He truly is a member of the Greatest Generation.
Story submitted by his son, Tony Velez.
The amphibious training continued on the island of Hawaii until the month of January when they boarded ship. They still did not know where they were going but after they had been at sea for several days they were told that their destination was the island of Iwo Jima. Pre-landing bombardment on Iwo Jima started on February 16, 1945 and continued for three days utilizing several battleships including the Arkansas, the New York, the Texas, the Nevada, the Idaho, the Tennessee, the North Carolina, the Washington, the West Virginia and several cruisers. The landing on Iwo Jima was on a Monday, February 19, 1945 at 1000 Hrs. His Amtrak and the 27 Marines he carried went in on the second wave and other waves of Marines came in 10 to 20 minutes apart. On February 23 at 1020 hrs, he recalls the noise coming from the ships as they blew their horns, fired their small guns and the cheers from the Marines as they looked toward Mt. Suribachi and saw the flag raising. Mr. Velez was on Iwo Jima for 36 days and left the island on March 26, 1945. He saw his friend, Sam Carpenter on March 22, 1945 and they talked about their plans to leave the island. Sadly, Sam Carpenter was killed on March 25, 1945.
The Fifth Marine Division came back to Hawaii and started training for the invasion of main land Japan. After the war ended, Mr. Velez was discharged from the Marine Corp on April 5, 1946, at McCallister, Oklahoma. He received his last pay of $100.00 and a bus ticket of $17.30 and he came home. He married Ramona Rivas Velez on June 9, 1946. They had eight children, have several grand children and great grand children. He is a lifetime VFW member and a member of VFW Post 4747 and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He has never forgotten his flag, his country, or his friend Sam Carpenter. And still today he wonders why he was allowed to walk off the island of Iwo Jima. He truly is a member of the Greatest Generation.
Story submitted by his son, Tony Velez.
CORPORAL
JOSEPH T. VESELY
27TH MARINE REGIMENT / ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
My Dad didn’t volunteer to share a lot of information about his time in the Marines. He tended to repeat the same stories when my brothers and I asked him about Iwo Jima. He was in the second wave of 5th Division Marines that landed on the beach and he fought there until he was wounded during the last days of the battle. He clearly recalled a lot more about those 25 terrible days than he wanted tell his boys. I do remember my Dad saying that the closest he came to getting killed was when he had some time to go swimming in Hawaii. Dad was a kid from Minnesota who had never seen an ocean. Apparently he was goofing around in the surf, got taken by a huge wave, smashed against the bottom and almost drowned. The only thing I remember him describing about the landing on Iwo Jima was the strangeness of the island---black sand with almost no vegetation. Just a barren rock that was unlike any landscape he had ever seen before. My Dad lost his belt sometime during his early days on Iwo Jima. He replaced it with another from the body a Japanese soldier that had been torn in half. He still had that belt when I was a kid. I was fascinated by the Marine weapons and my Dad would talk on that subject all I wanted. He explained to me that that he always slept better when there was a guy holding a BAR nearby. But he avoided talk about the horror of securing those hundreds of caves held by a suicidal enemy. The one other Iwo Jima souvenir kept by my Dad besides the Japanese belt was a Japanese bayonet and scabbard that he wore on the belt for the rest of the battle. I think I took that bayonet off an attic shelf every month when I was a boy and tried to imagine its story.
My Dad was shot in the hip on Iwo Jima and the bullet shattered his femur. He was evacuated by ship to Hawaii and had practically no effective pain medication during the entire voyage. I remember him just mentioning this trip as a matter of fact to me when I was growing up. But decades later my Mother told me that she had heard a more complete account of the time on that ship. It was about the worst time in my Dad’s life. From Hawaii, Dad was shipped to San Diego and eventually transferred to a veteran’s hospital in Minneapolis. The doctors told him that the leg would need to be amputated. Dad said that he’d kill himself first. Apparently the doctors believed him. So they tried a series of experimental procedures in which the broken bone was removed and the femur repaired with hardware. Dad had a lot more stories about the next four years of hospitalization than he ever did about Iwo Jima. He was stuck in a succession of full body casts from ankle to armpit for two years. This was when my Dad started smoking, as did many other vets when given free cigarettes in the hospital. We could hardly believe it when he told us that maggots were deliberately placed in his cast to clean up dead skin. But years later an experienced nurse confirmed to me that the practice wasn’t so uncommon back then. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how my Dad’s years between seventeen and twenty-two as a wounded vet were so different than my own years at the University of Minnesota.
The surgeries were remarkably successful, although his right leg was shortened by three inches and he worn an elevated shoe. Dad was able to go on to an active life that included a lot of hunting trips, a couple decades of league bowling, and golf until just a few years before he died. Still, he would have been happier if he had been able to remain a Marine. But there was little chance of that as all the military services were downsizing after the war and Dad was certainly ineligible for duty because of his leg injury. In fact, my Dad found that none of the trades would consider employing him because they thought he was too crippled for such work. The only jobs he could find back then were those mostly filled by women. Dad went on to become a court stenographer and then held a series of clerical positions that he never enjoyed. He never forgot the disrespect toward him as he was struggling to find work after the Marines. Dad continued to correspond with buddies from the Marines for the rest of his left and he attended a few 5th Division reunions around the country. One of his closest friends from the Marines was Jim Justice. When I wrote to Jim to tell him of my Dad’s death he said that that makes him the last survivor from the unit---I wish I could remember which unit that was.
My Dad’s health was fading by 2004. I meant to learn more about his life while I could. So a started to record interviews with him in his St. Paul apartment. We talked about his family and growing up in the West 7th Street neighborhood of St. Paul during the Depression. I was especially looking forward to recording his experience in the Marines. I was sure he would describe Iwo Jima to me more fully now that I was an adult. But Dad died on July 29, 2005 before I interviewed him about his time in the Marines. I can’t tell you how much I regret not trying to have that conversation ten years earlier. A friend who is a career Army officer tried to help me find some military archive that would be interested in my Dad’s Marine memorabilia. I remember looking closely at that old Japanese bayonet with him when he pointed out a big nick in the blade. It seems very likely that it could have been caused by the bullet that shattered my Dad’s leg. I’ll never know for sure.
Story and photos submitted by his son, Dave Vesely.
My Dad was shot in the hip on Iwo Jima and the bullet shattered his femur. He was evacuated by ship to Hawaii and had practically no effective pain medication during the entire voyage. I remember him just mentioning this trip as a matter of fact to me when I was growing up. But decades later my Mother told me that she had heard a more complete account of the time on that ship. It was about the worst time in my Dad’s life. From Hawaii, Dad was shipped to San Diego and eventually transferred to a veteran’s hospital in Minneapolis. The doctors told him that the leg would need to be amputated. Dad said that he’d kill himself first. Apparently the doctors believed him. So they tried a series of experimental procedures in which the broken bone was removed and the femur repaired with hardware. Dad had a lot more stories about the next four years of hospitalization than he ever did about Iwo Jima. He was stuck in a succession of full body casts from ankle to armpit for two years. This was when my Dad started smoking, as did many other vets when given free cigarettes in the hospital. We could hardly believe it when he told us that maggots were deliberately placed in his cast to clean up dead skin. But years later an experienced nurse confirmed to me that the practice wasn’t so uncommon back then. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how my Dad’s years between seventeen and twenty-two as a wounded vet were so different than my own years at the University of Minnesota.
The surgeries were remarkably successful, although his right leg was shortened by three inches and he worn an elevated shoe. Dad was able to go on to an active life that included a lot of hunting trips, a couple decades of league bowling, and golf until just a few years before he died. Still, he would have been happier if he had been able to remain a Marine. But there was little chance of that as all the military services were downsizing after the war and Dad was certainly ineligible for duty because of his leg injury. In fact, my Dad found that none of the trades would consider employing him because they thought he was too crippled for such work. The only jobs he could find back then were those mostly filled by women. Dad went on to become a court stenographer and then held a series of clerical positions that he never enjoyed. He never forgot the disrespect toward him as he was struggling to find work after the Marines. Dad continued to correspond with buddies from the Marines for the rest of his left and he attended a few 5th Division reunions around the country. One of his closest friends from the Marines was Jim Justice. When I wrote to Jim to tell him of my Dad’s death he said that that makes him the last survivor from the unit---I wish I could remember which unit that was.
My Dad’s health was fading by 2004. I meant to learn more about his life while I could. So a started to record interviews with him in his St. Paul apartment. We talked about his family and growing up in the West 7th Street neighborhood of St. Paul during the Depression. I was especially looking forward to recording his experience in the Marines. I was sure he would describe Iwo Jima to me more fully now that I was an adult. But Dad died on July 29, 2005 before I interviewed him about his time in the Marines. I can’t tell you how much I regret not trying to have that conversation ten years earlier. A friend who is a career Army officer tried to help me find some military archive that would be interested in my Dad’s Marine memorabilia. I remember looking closely at that old Japanese bayonet with him when he pointed out a big nick in the blade. It seems very likely that it could have been caused by the bullet that shattered my Dad’s leg. I’ll never know for sure.
Story and photos submitted by his son, Dave Vesely.
Private first class
JAMES E. WEAVER
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / HARRISONVILLE, MISSOURI
Son of Glenn & Frances Weaver.
Born June 20, 1915. Die October 21, 1964
Buried at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, Missouri
Submitted by his son, Michael Weaver.
Born June 20, 1915. Die October 21, 1964
Buried at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, Missouri
Submitted by his son, Michael Weaver.
Captain
aaron gove wilkins
28TH MARINE REGIMENT / DENVER, COLORADO
Aaron Gove Wilkins was born on April 25, 1920, and raised in Denver, Colorado. Wilkins, who only went by "Gove", went to East Denver High, which was also the high school attended by actor Douglas Fairbanks in the late 1890's, young Gove played varsity football, was a member of the Pep Club, and both the Glee Club and Acappella Choir. Perhaps indicative of his future leadership abilities, he was the track team manager and a member of the debating team. Gove entered Dartmouth in the fall of 1938 as a member of the class of 1942. He signed up for the Marine Corps in January 1941. His official enlistment occurred on April 6, 1942, just a month prior to his graduation from Dartmouth with a degree of Bachelor of Arts. In fact, by May 18, 1942, Gove was attending officers' school in Quantico, Virginia.
On June 13, 1942, Gove was appointed as second lieutenant and attended reserve officers' class at Quantico, Virginia, where in August he was assigned as an ROTC instructor. On January 13, 1943, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. After a year of duty as an ROTC instructor with the training regiment, on January 8, 1944, Gove was transferred to Headquarters and Service Company of the 28th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California. From January 14, 1944, through March 10, 1944, he attended the motor transport school at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and then returned to his unit at Camp Pendleton. On April 1, 1944, he was promoted to his ultimate rank of Captain, and on June 26, 1944, he became the commanding officer of Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 28th Marines.
Gove’s final promotion came on August 29, 1944, when he was given command of Able Company, First Battalion, 28th Marines. As commanding officer of Able Company, Captain Gove Wilkins controlled the lives of more than 200 men as they were soon to enter World War II in the Pacific. The 28th Marine Regiment was organized on February 7, 1944, and, along with the 26th, 27th, and 13th Marines, comprised the Fifth Marine Division. In July 1944 the Division departed for Camp Tarawa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Following additional training and several simulated landings on Maui and Kohoolawe, the Division returned to Pearl Harbor for brief liberty before heading to the Western Pacific and "Island X" on January 27, 1945. While at sea Captain Wilkins and his men of Able Company learned that "Island X" was the tiny porkchop-shaped island Iwo Jima ("Sulfur Island"). Following a brief stop at Eniwetok Atoll on February 5 for a shore break and "beer bust", the armada of ships, including the troop ship USS Dickens carrying Captain Wilkins and the rest of the 28th Marines, arrived at Saipan in the Marianas on February 11. One final landing exercise on the island of Tinian on February 13, and the fleet was off to Iwo Jima. Most of Captain Wilkins' Able Company men were on LST 70, with the remainder on LSTs 440, 758, and 1033. These four ships carried a total of 1,034 Marines of the four Companies of the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines.
Despite 72 days of continuous bombing and offshore shelling of Iwo Jima, from December 8 until the beach landing on February 19 (D-Day), the island fortifications were largely unaffected and relatively few of 23,000 Japanese defenders were killed. The 28th Marines’ three battalions landed abreast on a 1,500-yard stretch of beach (Green Beach) closest to the formidable Mt. Suribachi at the southeastern part of Iwo Jima. The First Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jackson B. Butterfield had the task of cutting directly across the narrow neck of the island under the shadow of Mt. Suribachi, a distance of 750 yards. Leading the Battalion, Captain Wilkins' Able Company suffered many casualties during this gauntlet charge, knocking out enemy pillboxes and blockhouses along the way. By 1400 the entire 1st Battalion was on the western side of Iwo Jima. One of Gove's men, Corporal Tony Stein, won the Medal of Honor for his heroism and extreme valor during this first day’s fight, the first of 27 Medals of Honor awarded on Iwo Jima. Wounded during numerous assaults on Japanese pillboxes, Stein continued his one-man attack across the foot of Iwo Jima to the western beaches. Although Captain Wilkins ordered him to the landing beach for treatment and evacuation, Tony talked him out of it. Sadly, Corporal Stein’s devotion to duty cost his life as he was later killed on March 1 during the assault on Hill 362A, the same day that ended Gove’s life.
After Gove and the 1st Battalion had encircled Mt. Suribachi on the west, units of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, were successful in capturing Mt. Suribachi on February 23 (D + 4). Units of this battalion planted the well-known flag on Mt. Suribachi. By the end of February 21 (D + 2), some 5,400 Marines were killed or wounded of the 40,000 men ashore. Suffering enormous casualties in their dash across the island, on February 25 (D + 6) the 28th Marines reverted to Corps Reserve for much needed rest and recuperation. This short break ended on February 28 (D + 9) when the 28th was ordered to advance up the western side of Iwo Jima, where the real battle awaited them. They reached the designated sector on February 26 (D + 7), which was the heavily defended Japanese cross-island defense line anchored by Hill 362A, an enormous rock fortress that was to later claim the life of Captain Wilkins and many of his men on March 1, 1945 (D + 10).
On March 1 (D + 10) at 0630, the 28th passed through the battered 27th Regiment to continue the attack against the heavily fortified and defended Hill 362A. The three 28th battalions were aligned right to left (east to west), 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions. As these units advanced over the south slope to the crest of the hill, which dropped off as a sheer 80 foot cliff, they were met by ferocious machine gun and mortar fire from Nishi Ridge, 200 yards to the northwest, and from caves on the north face of Hill 362A. At this point the 1st Battalion commander ordered Captain Wilkins and his Co. A, which had been in reserve, around the right side of the hill down into the draw. With his company pinned down by devastating hostile fire emanating from a series of heavily fortified emplacements artfully concealed and deeply entrenched in rock-studded cliffs, Captain Wilkins fearlessly exposed himself to the shattering barrage to maintain contact among his assault platoons and, calmly walking through the front line areas, skillfully located strong points and personally directed powerful gun-fire against the enemy, inspiring his men to hold fast and lending encouragement throughout the bitter engagement. Realizing the necessity for close observation, he dauntlessly penetrated Japanese infested territory alone under a concentrated barrage of mortar and small-arms fire to single out his designated target and then, returning to the skirmish line, promptly directed his machine-gun and mortar section in delivering a furious assault to gain the objective and inflict heavy casualties on Japanese forces with minimum loss to his own. Constantly in the forefront of action, he again led a daring strike against a fiercely resisting enemy later that same day and while indicating targets and directing the assault, was fatally struck down by a sudden hostile shellburst. Inspired by Captain Wilkins' heroism, indomitable spirit and aggressive determination, his company pushed relentlessly forward to silence the indicated positions and continue the sustained advance to capture the island. The exact cause of Gove's death beneath Hill 362A remains controversial. Although the official records indicate that he died from sniper bullets in the chest and neck, his Silver Star citation states that a mortar shell killed him and two of his men instantly during their reconnaissance mission. Of Captain Wilkins' original complement of 200 men, 43 were killed on Iwo Jima, 119 were wounded, and only 40 escaped unhurt. Several of the latter men were casualties of combat fatigue (“shell shock”). Gove's remains were removed from the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima (plot 4, row 7, grave 931) in 1946 and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Story and photos submitted by Gordon W. Gribble.
On June 13, 1942, Gove was appointed as second lieutenant and attended reserve officers' class at Quantico, Virginia, where in August he was assigned as an ROTC instructor. On January 13, 1943, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. After a year of duty as an ROTC instructor with the training regiment, on January 8, 1944, Gove was transferred to Headquarters and Service Company of the 28th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California. From January 14, 1944, through March 10, 1944, he attended the motor transport school at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and then returned to his unit at Camp Pendleton. On April 1, 1944, he was promoted to his ultimate rank of Captain, and on June 26, 1944, he became the commanding officer of Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 28th Marines.
Gove’s final promotion came on August 29, 1944, when he was given command of Able Company, First Battalion, 28th Marines. As commanding officer of Able Company, Captain Gove Wilkins controlled the lives of more than 200 men as they were soon to enter World War II in the Pacific. The 28th Marine Regiment was organized on February 7, 1944, and, along with the 26th, 27th, and 13th Marines, comprised the Fifth Marine Division. In July 1944 the Division departed for Camp Tarawa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Following additional training and several simulated landings on Maui and Kohoolawe, the Division returned to Pearl Harbor for brief liberty before heading to the Western Pacific and "Island X" on January 27, 1945. While at sea Captain Wilkins and his men of Able Company learned that "Island X" was the tiny porkchop-shaped island Iwo Jima ("Sulfur Island"). Following a brief stop at Eniwetok Atoll on February 5 for a shore break and "beer bust", the armada of ships, including the troop ship USS Dickens carrying Captain Wilkins and the rest of the 28th Marines, arrived at Saipan in the Marianas on February 11. One final landing exercise on the island of Tinian on February 13, and the fleet was off to Iwo Jima. Most of Captain Wilkins' Able Company men were on LST 70, with the remainder on LSTs 440, 758, and 1033. These four ships carried a total of 1,034 Marines of the four Companies of the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines.
Despite 72 days of continuous bombing and offshore shelling of Iwo Jima, from December 8 until the beach landing on February 19 (D-Day), the island fortifications were largely unaffected and relatively few of 23,000 Japanese defenders were killed. The 28th Marines’ three battalions landed abreast on a 1,500-yard stretch of beach (Green Beach) closest to the formidable Mt. Suribachi at the southeastern part of Iwo Jima. The First Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jackson B. Butterfield had the task of cutting directly across the narrow neck of the island under the shadow of Mt. Suribachi, a distance of 750 yards. Leading the Battalion, Captain Wilkins' Able Company suffered many casualties during this gauntlet charge, knocking out enemy pillboxes and blockhouses along the way. By 1400 the entire 1st Battalion was on the western side of Iwo Jima. One of Gove's men, Corporal Tony Stein, won the Medal of Honor for his heroism and extreme valor during this first day’s fight, the first of 27 Medals of Honor awarded on Iwo Jima. Wounded during numerous assaults on Japanese pillboxes, Stein continued his one-man attack across the foot of Iwo Jima to the western beaches. Although Captain Wilkins ordered him to the landing beach for treatment and evacuation, Tony talked him out of it. Sadly, Corporal Stein’s devotion to duty cost his life as he was later killed on March 1 during the assault on Hill 362A, the same day that ended Gove’s life.
After Gove and the 1st Battalion had encircled Mt. Suribachi on the west, units of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, were successful in capturing Mt. Suribachi on February 23 (D + 4). Units of this battalion planted the well-known flag on Mt. Suribachi. By the end of February 21 (D + 2), some 5,400 Marines were killed or wounded of the 40,000 men ashore. Suffering enormous casualties in their dash across the island, on February 25 (D + 6) the 28th Marines reverted to Corps Reserve for much needed rest and recuperation. This short break ended on February 28 (D + 9) when the 28th was ordered to advance up the western side of Iwo Jima, where the real battle awaited them. They reached the designated sector on February 26 (D + 7), which was the heavily defended Japanese cross-island defense line anchored by Hill 362A, an enormous rock fortress that was to later claim the life of Captain Wilkins and many of his men on March 1, 1945 (D + 10).
On March 1 (D + 10) at 0630, the 28th passed through the battered 27th Regiment to continue the attack against the heavily fortified and defended Hill 362A. The three 28th battalions were aligned right to left (east to west), 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions. As these units advanced over the south slope to the crest of the hill, which dropped off as a sheer 80 foot cliff, they were met by ferocious machine gun and mortar fire from Nishi Ridge, 200 yards to the northwest, and from caves on the north face of Hill 362A. At this point the 1st Battalion commander ordered Captain Wilkins and his Co. A, which had been in reserve, around the right side of the hill down into the draw. With his company pinned down by devastating hostile fire emanating from a series of heavily fortified emplacements artfully concealed and deeply entrenched in rock-studded cliffs, Captain Wilkins fearlessly exposed himself to the shattering barrage to maintain contact among his assault platoons and, calmly walking through the front line areas, skillfully located strong points and personally directed powerful gun-fire against the enemy, inspiring his men to hold fast and lending encouragement throughout the bitter engagement. Realizing the necessity for close observation, he dauntlessly penetrated Japanese infested territory alone under a concentrated barrage of mortar and small-arms fire to single out his designated target and then, returning to the skirmish line, promptly directed his machine-gun and mortar section in delivering a furious assault to gain the objective and inflict heavy casualties on Japanese forces with minimum loss to his own. Constantly in the forefront of action, he again led a daring strike against a fiercely resisting enemy later that same day and while indicating targets and directing the assault, was fatally struck down by a sudden hostile shellburst. Inspired by Captain Wilkins' heroism, indomitable spirit and aggressive determination, his company pushed relentlessly forward to silence the indicated positions and continue the sustained advance to capture the island. The exact cause of Gove's death beneath Hill 362A remains controversial. Although the official records indicate that he died from sniper bullets in the chest and neck, his Silver Star citation states that a mortar shell killed him and two of his men instantly during their reconnaissance mission. Of Captain Wilkins' original complement of 200 men, 43 were killed on Iwo Jima, 119 were wounded, and only 40 escaped unhurt. Several of the latter men were casualties of combat fatigue (“shell shock”). Gove's remains were removed from the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima (plot 4, row 7, grave 931) in 1946 and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Story and photos submitted by Gordon W. Gribble.
PRIVATE
DOYLE W. WOOD
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / YELLVILLE, ARKANSAS
Private First Class Doyle William Wood was born in Flippin, Arkansas on October 29, 1925. He was the son of Jinks and Lela (Ott) Wood. He was part of the 27th Replacement Battalion and fought on Iwo Jima with Company I, 3rd Battalion of the 26th Marine Regiment from February 19 until March 16, 1945. On Iwo Jima, Pfc. Wood served as a flamethrower. He later participated in the occupation of Japan from September 23 to October 20, 1945. He never talked much about his time on Iwo Jima, but he was very proud to have been a Marine
After World War II, Doyle Wood worked for 25 years with Kraft Food in Springfield, Missouri retiring in 1982. He attended church at First Baptist in Yellville. He was married to his wife, Norma, and had five children, John, Madelyn, Anita, Laveta and Bill. He passed away on April 30, 2015 and is buried in Layton Cemetery in Yellville, Arkansas.
Story and photo submitted by his daughter, Madelyn Carlton.
After World War II, Doyle Wood worked for 25 years with Kraft Food in Springfield, Missouri retiring in 1982. He attended church at First Baptist in Yellville. He was married to his wife, Norma, and had five children, John, Madelyn, Anita, Laveta and Bill. He passed away on April 30, 2015 and is buried in Layton Cemetery in Yellville, Arkansas.
Story and photo submitted by his daughter, Madelyn Carlton.
PRIVATE
ERITT WOOD, JR.
26TH MARINE REGIMENT / OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
Son of Eritt Sr. & Hazel McElfresh Wood.
Born June 2, 1926. Died February 24, 1945.
Buried at Mustang Cemetery in Mustang, Oklahoma
Submitted by his cousin, Reba Corley.
Born June 2, 1926. Died February 24, 1945.
Buried at Mustang Cemetery in Mustang, Oklahoma
Submitted by his cousin, Reba Corley.