Category: World War II

IWO

Dear Sgt. Grit.

The attached photo (the B&W) was taken by an official Marine photographer About March 6, 1945. My brother (on the right) was with Headquarters 5th Amphibious Corps and for the Iwo operation was attached to the Fourth MarDiv as a communication liaison between Division and Corps Headquarters. I (on the left)was in Signal Company, Headquarters Bn. Fifth Marine Division. That’s a radio jeep we are standing next to on Iwo Jima. Obviously, we were both on Iwo, and we both survived. read more

WWII Veterans Honored

Flag Day June 14, 2009

WWII Veterans Honored

I am on our Legion Honor Guard, one of our past commanders Bill Kaufman had noticed that we had lost a lot of our WWII Veterans last year. So he said we should find a day and get them all together for a picture. Well it took some time to get the right day for the picture. We finally picked “Flag Day” because all of our snow birds would be back for the summer. Also it was a date close to the “D-Day Anniversary”. The Flag Day program is always put on by the Grand Haven Elk’s Lodge with support from the American Legion and the VFW. I asked the chairman Mike Lankes from the Elk’s Fag Day Committee if we could be part of their program that day. He said YES. read more

Colonel Kenneth L. Reusser

It is my sad duty to report that Colonel Kenneth L. Reusser, USMC (Ret.) made his last takeoff on 20 June 2009. He is survived by his wife Trudy, sons, Richard and Ken II and sister Betty Vuylsteke. Funeral services will be held at the New Hope Community Church in Portland OR on Friday June 26th, 2009 at 11:00 AM, followed by graveside services at Willamette National Cemetery. Detailed instructions were sent under separate cover. read more

Red Dog Outing

Hey Grit; Just thought I?d send this along. WWII Veteran Bernie Ruchin holds a get together each year at his home in Bedford NH for the Marines in the area. Marines from WWII up to Desert Storm and all ranks from Cpl to Col. Swap Sea Stories and shoot rifle and pistol competition. Bernie?s wife and daughter hosts the event, making sure the food never runs low. read more

Marine, 91, receives Purple Heart

Hello Sgt Grit,

Yesterday, September 9, 2009, my father, First Sergeant Casey T. Bazewick, USMC (retired), 91, was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received as a prisoner of war in World War II.

He enlisted before WWII in 1938, after two years in the Marine Corps Reserve. He served with the 4th Marines in Shanghai and on Corregidor in its defense until it fell on May 6, 1942. He became a prisoner of Japan for 39 months — 92 Garage (Corregidor), Bilibid Prison (Manila), Cabanatuan (Luzon, where 42% died in the first year), Hell Ship Tottori Maru (on deck he watched it nearly sunk by two American torpedoes), and Mukden, Manchuria at a large Mitsubishi factory (three winters, 40?50 below). read more

Heroes Everywhere

Sgt. Grit,

My name is Glenn Russ. I’m a former active duty Marine. My wife and I visited the National Musuem of the Marine Corps September 11th. First, I must say the museum was outstanding! It is a must go and see for all Marines! We went to Washington, D.C. the following morning and approached the World War II memorial. read more

WW II Honor Flight to DC

Hi Sgt. Grit,

Here are some pictures Taken on an Honor Flight of WWI I Veterns. I was a Guardian for the WWI I Vet. in the first picture. I had to be at the County building at 0230 Saturday morning and we got back to the County building ar 2215 that night, very tireing but loots of good feeling in the chest. read more

Intel Support BN Marines with WWII Vet

Dear Sgt Grit,

This photo was taken at the Pee Dee Patriotic Parade in Florence SC on 12 September 2009. A few of us Marines from Intel Support BN, Charlie Co, All Source Fusion Platoon made the trip down from Quanitco VA to participate in the parade and were honored to meet WWII Veteran Tech Sgt Bob Mills (center). He told us his stories from Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima. It was an extremely great pleasure to get to meet and listen to his stories! The camaraderie shared between him and us, despite all the years between his years of service and ours was something Ill never forget! It was truly an honor to meet such a Marine! read more

Tientsin pics

Sarge: Just read “A History Lesson By Ed Fulwider” regarding the 1st Marines in Tientsin. My dad was not in the service but had a buddy who was evidently in the 1st, and sent him some pics from Tientsin. They include a couple pics of the Marine (I do not know his name), and of the Jap surrender. read more

PFC Albert W. Adams

Dear Sgt Grit,
Your magazine arrived yesterday.
I am writing to let you know my husband PFC Albert W. Adams passed away on may 29th. So there is no need to send the magazine any more.

He did enjoy looking through it and I know it brought back a lot of memories to him. Some were good memories, but there were also bad ones when he would think of the horrors of the war that he through. read more