The anniversary of Tarawa is coming up on 11/20 and I thought I'd send some info and photos of my Father, Hawk Rader Jr., D/1/8 2DIV ('Canal and Tarawa) then A/1/8 (Saipan, Tinian). He went to help St. Peter guard the gates of Heaven on 7/12/11 and I still miss him very much. I was lucky enough to hear in great detail of his experiences in all of his battles, including Tarawa. I attended the 2nd Marines' annual Tarawa Day services with him at Lejeune in 2003 and '04 and saw how much the memories of that battle affected him until the day he passed on.
Dad was in 4 major battles before he was 20 and talked about them, he said, to help get over his experiences rather than keeping WWII inside him.
After WWII Dad went back into the Marines and was stationed primarily at Camp Lejeune until he got out of the Marines in July 1951 as a TSgt. I myself was born at the old Lejeune Hospital in 1951, now 2nd MEF HQ. Due to lack of housing on the base, post war, my Dad married Mom at Lejeune's Protestant Chapel in 1950 and they rented an apartment in Swansboro, NC above a garage at Casper's Marina, a fine place still in business there. Dad was quite a fisherman and hauled in some great catches, as typified by one of photos.
I hope all the Leathernecks and friends out there will enjoy these photos.
Semper Fi,
Marsha Rader