Sgt. Grit,
In June of 1956 I was fortunate to join the Avionic shop of MAG-35 MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The group consisted of two squadrons, VMR-153 and VMR-252 of R3Q-2 “flying boxcars.” My shop supervisor was then Capt. Robert O. Arthur of Wake Island VMF-211 fame. He was the spitting image of “Smiling Jack” the cartoon character with the pencil thin mustache. The Captain was a big man full of good humor and a great C.O. He drove a small Renault which was way too small for his large frame. When he wasn’t flying he always joined us at the noon time card game. We all knew the Capt. had spent most of WWll in a Japanese prison camp after the capture of Wake Island but none of us knew of his heroism. He never bragged nor did he talk much about his prison camp experience. One day we were visited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen. Randolph McCall Pate. I was standing on top of an aircraft in our hanger when the Commandant entered. I heard the Commandant yell “Bob” and the two walked swiftly toward each other and sharing greetings they embraced. I knew then there must be something special about our Capt.
I remember one day when the Capt. Was flying and our shop Master Sgt. Washburn decided to pull a prank on the Capt. He got a bunch of us together and we picked up the Capt.’s Renault and carried it inside our hanger and hid it in a cage. When the Capt. Returned he was shocked to find his car missing and it took him some time to find it. Instead of being angry he viewed the incident with great amusement.
On a personnel note I was responsible for maintaining the ARN-6 (Bird Dog} among other equipment. We had lost several units that had been assigned for repair by Overhaul and Repair. Several weeks passed without any action being taken whereupon I took it upon myself to seek cooperation from a Tech Sgt. In the mechanic shop to see if we could fix the broken equipment ourselves. The mechanic quickly solved the problem and he restored the broken equipment to online condition. This was of course a breach of Marine Corps operating procedures. Because I was behind this action I had to face my Capt. on charges for the orders I had violated. After dressing me down the Capt. quickly changed his tune, shook my hand and complemented me for my out of the box action. That’s the kind of man he was.
Out of great respect and admiration I’d like to share with all Marines who read this newsletter what was said about the Capt.’s heroic action on Wake Island.
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Awards and Citations
1.
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Staff Sergeant Robert O. Arthur (MCSN: 265415), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMF-211), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Wake Island, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, 8 to 23 December 1941. In the devastating Japanese air raid on 8 December, Staff Sergeant Arthur was severely wounded in the left wrist, completely losing the use of his left hand. In spite of this handicap, he rendered gallant service in rescuing more seriously wounded comrades from burning airplanes and camp areas and refused to be evacuated until all others had received medical aid. After a single day's treatment, he left the island hospital and returned to duty. Again evacuated, he persisted in his determined efforts to aid in the defense of the island, returned to his squadron and, after several days of secret experimentation, demonstrated to his squadron commander that he could attach his bandaged hand to the throttle of an airplane and was permitted to fly on reconnaissance patrol. Later, he armed himself with a pistol and, with his left hand still useless, fought beside his comrades throughout the final moments of combat until the island defenses were overwhelmed by superior Japanese forces. Staff Sergeant Arthur's initiative, fortitude and courageous devotion to duty at the risk of his life enhanced the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific Forces: Serial 2915 (June 27, 1947)
Action Date: December 8 – 23, 1941
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Company: Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211)
Regiment: Marine Air Group 22 (MAG-22)
Division: Naval Air Station, Wake Island
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Needless to say, who wouldn’t be proud to say they served under this Marine. Major Arthur died of cancer in 2002.
Cpl. Fred Finch (then Buck Sgt.) USMC 1955-1959