Sgt. Grit,
In answer to Kenneth Coffey's message in this week's edition of your news publication, regarding the 19 Japanese soldiers that were found on Guam in 1951, in the process of being returned to Japan.
I was also on Guam in the later part of 1950, and evidently in the same Guard Detachment as Sgt. Coffey, prior to my assignment in Korea, and in fact, was sent out on several patrols in attempt to locate these holdouts. We knew they were there, as we had found caves with evidence of the survivors, and suspected them to be sniping us, on various guard positions throughout the island. I have attached an article posted in the Guam News from Sept. of 1951. This article was given to me in later years from another personal friend (1st Sgt. Richard Wilhelm) who was my Top Sergeant during that period of duty. I read in the Stars and Stripes, while in Korea ('51), that they had found these 5 known survivors, but felt there were more. And as Sgt. Coffey has indicated, there were several more.
Unfortunately, I do not remember Sgt. Coffey, but certainly am glad to hear from other members of the Guam Guard Unit.
Staff Sgt. Charles "Chuck" Tucker USMCR 1109343
'49 – '60