World War II – Page 14 – Sgt. Grit Community

Japanese brought to Guard Company Marine Barracks on Guam

Sgt Grit

I was stationed on Guam in 1951-1952 with Guard Company Marine Barracks when nineteen Japanese stragglers were brought in from Anatahan. These nineteen japanese didn't know WW2 was over. I have a paper where one of the Japanese drew a picture of a soldier explaining to me his name, rank and where he was from. These nineteen were on Guam for several weeks being processed for their return back to japan. I'm enclosing a photo of the nineteen Japanese that was in the Navy Times on 1 July 1951. I would like to see if any other Marines stationed at Guam remember this. Thanks Sgt Grit read more

D.L. Hampton World War II Dog Tags

I have been reading the letters from other Marines that have attached WWII dog tags. Just thought that I would send my dad's. I carry his along with mine on my key chain. He wore these in WWII and Korea. I lost my dad back in 2003, and know that there are fewer and fewer of the WWII Marines around, but I would like to hear from anyone that may have known my Dad. My Dad, Don L. Hampton, was from Sweetwater, Texas. read more

Marine Dog Tags WWII

Sgt.Grit this is the best I could do on a picture of the dog tags if you zoom in they look pretty clear.

WILDER. D.L. 955090 P TYPE-O T.7/44 USMCR Mario Muniz Sr.

World War II Dog Tags

Sgt Grit,

Enjoy your E-mails & your store. Reading this week's E-mails in regards to Mike Shaw's letter about SgtMaj Linehan. Never knew the man personally but I do know his widow quite well. She's a member of our Detachment for which the Detachment is named. I'm a 4th. term Commandant for the SgtMaj Linehan Detachment #1034 here in Lewiston, Idaho. His wife is a Marine also, that's how they met. read more

Old Sailor

This is a pic of myself and Lorton Berry. Lorton lives in Lutts, TN. He is 88 10-13. Met him last New Year's. He was in the Navy, WWII. Attached to 1st MarDiv, and maybe other units. Communications. From Guadalcanal to Okinawa. He told me stories about Guadalcanal,, Tinian and Peleliu. When I first met him, I told him that his generation, were heroes to Marines of my generation. He looked me in the eye and said "the heroes are still there." His daughter said, she had never heard the stories he told me. She told me he wanted a medal he didn't have. All she knew it was purple. I got in touch with Marsha Blackburn, Rep from TN. Took a while, but her office is helping. Records were lost. Can't remember which island, but said when Chesty was hit, he told Corpsman to attend to others. Anybody know how we could get him on that list to go see the WWII memorial?

Old Corps

Went fishing with my wife to June Lake CA, second day there we were parking wife had to "go" then on her way back she says to me hey the old guy over there is a Marine! Like I wouldn't have noticed, anyway I caught up with him at the loading ramp said out loud HEY MARINE at which point he straightend up turn to look at me, we shook hands and I found out he had been on most of the island hopping campaigns, said he wasn't on Iwo Jima or another island (can't remember which he said) due to injuries. read more

Henry and the 4th, Saipan

My Grandfather has been a hero of mine for a long time, even though he died in 1992 when I was only six. Henry Ambrose Snell Jr. was born in Bethel Maine in 1919. He grew up on an apple farm before graduating from the University of Maine where, at almost six feet tall, he played on the basketball team. read more

Iwo Flag in Sparks, Nevada

I'm at the TA truck stop in Sparks, Nevada, formerly Sierra Sids. This flag has been on display here for many years. It no longer has the card explaining that it was taken off the body of a dead Marine on Iwo Jima. You may be able to see the stains on the flag, actually blood from the fallen Marine.

WWII Posters

I found these on the internet and thought you might want to post them in the weekly letter.
I have never seen these three WWII posters and found them unusual.

M. N. Verhagen, USMC, Cpl. 1966 – 1970

Bataan-Corregidor

Dear Friends,

Amazing news about my father, Casey Bazewick, Sr.!

Today I learned that the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico has found, in an archive, a film of the liberation of his prisoner-of-war camp in Mukden, Manchuria, taken shortly after Japan's surrender in August 1945. OSS paratroopers had just liberated the camp.

I had no idea this film existed.

"Hoten POW Camp Liberated" is now on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytYOOjwzoAw

At 0:35 in the film, you can see Hoten POW camp where he had been a POW since November 1942. POWs were enslaved, starved, beaten, tortured, shot, and subjected to medical experimentation. He endured three Manchurian winters, with temperatures plunging to forty below zero and colder. From the fall of Corregidor, May 6, 1942, he was a prisoner of the Japanese for over 39 months.

At liberation he was almost 27. It so happens that today is his 93rd birthday. My wife Kristi and I showed him the film at his nursing home. He watched it intently twice. For me, it was most moving to see his reaction. What a gift for all of us!

He doesn't seem to be in the film, nor is there anyone he recognizes, but clearly he remembers the time and place.

In the attached still photos, taken at the same time as the film, he smiles at us across the years, standing shoulder to shoulder with the 4th Marines of the camp. In wonder, we smile back at him, 66 years later. read more