Category: World War II

George Medal

George Medal
Submitted by R.A. Wulff

In the early morning hours of August 7, 1942, elements of the First Marine Division made their way into the landing boats and began the assault on the Japanese held island of Guadalcanal. As in any conflict, there were to be many acts of heroism, untold fear and the seeds of legends. After an unopposed landing and the initial advance into the interior of the island by the Marines, the Japanese decided that it was time to drive the Americans away from Henderson Airfield and back to the beaches where the Japanese Army would annihilate them. The Marines saw it differently and the battle went from a sparing match to a brawl. It was the birth place of major offensive action and the thousands of telegrams that were to be sent to the front doors of American homes from the Pacific for the next three years.

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27th Marines on Iwo Jima Story

BLOOD PROMOTIONS: 27th Marines on Iwo Jima
Submitted by Chuck Tatum

Major Justin G. Duryea was the original commander of the 1st Bn 27th Marines. When he came aboard, he brought his staff from the parachute training school located at Camp Gillispie, California.

When Lt. Col Butler came aboard, the major moved up to regimental headquarters and became the 27th Marines operations officer. He received a promotion to Lt. Col. As an operation officer, he was in charge of plans and training. That chore included devising operational plans for all the battalions of the 27th Marine Regiment.

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Back Alley Bridge Rules

Rules of the Game
Sumitted by Gary F. Taylor

1. Start each player ( 4 total played with partners ) getting thirteen cards. This will leave two cards left over (you use the jokes as the big and little bloopers).

2. Turn over 53rd card and it will be trump.

3. Each player bids as to how many tricks he can take. Each team of partners is totaled; i.e. North bids 5, East bids 2, South bids 3, and West bids 2. That totals 12 of a possible 13 tricks.

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Japan’s Atomic Bomb: We almost lost all

Japan’s Atomic Bomb
by Leon Thompson

(Reprinted with permission of Military magazine, 2122 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. A sample copy of Military may be obtained by writing to the above address)

While reading the article by William B. Breuer entitled “Hiroshima bomb saved lives” (Oct. ’94, pg. 39), I had to chuckle to myself, because he is on the right track, but doesn’t know the half of it; the bomb saved two nations!

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Iwo Jima Landing and Flag Raising Commemoration in Sacat Arizona

February 20 and 21, 2009 – 64th Anniversary Iwo Jima Landing and Flag Raising Commemoration in Sacaton, Arizona

"The flag doesn't wave because the wind blows it. It waves with the last breath of every service member that has given his life for this grand and great nation." Marshall Tall Eagle Serna

On February 19, 1945, a large contingent of Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima facing an equally substantial army of Japanese defenders. One of the bloodiest, fiercest four days of combat ensued. Iwo Jima became the most populous 7 square miles on the planet as U. S. Marines and Japanese soldiers fought a battle that would test American resolve symbolizing a free society's willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to prevail over evil. A SACRIFICE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.

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