Posted on 09/28/2015 1:59:52 PM PDT by Kartographer
Clay Bonnyman Evans knew all there was to know about his grandfather though the two had never met until that moment under several feet of crushed coral rock on a remote island in the Pacific.
Evans was polite when requesting the anthropology brush he would use to sweep some of the dust from his grandfather’s remains when they were found in May on the Tawara Atoll.
“My whole life I grew up with that medal on the wall and the citation,” Evans said, holding back tears. “He’s always been my hero.”
Evans, referring to the Medal of Honor his grandfather earned posthumously for his heroism in World War II’s Battle of Tarawa, had reached the end of a five-year journey. His grandfather's story actually stretched back more than seven decades, to November 22, 1943, when 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr. led his fellow Marines to charge a bunker that Japanese soldiers had managed to employ as a linchpin to hold back a relentless offensive.
“He was the one who on his own stood up there at the leading edge and was able to hold the surging Japanese back long enough for the Marines behind him to come up and finish the attack and take the bunker,” Evans said. “The language they use is ‘extraordinary.’”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
BONNYMAN, ALEXANDER, JR.
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
Company:
Division:
Born: 2 May 1910, Atlanta, Ga.
Departed: Yes
Entered Service At:
G.O. Number:
Date of Issue:
Accredited To: New Mexico
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2647/bonnyman-alexander-jr.php
To my knowledge the only MoH winner to have his final exploits recorded on film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4q4NZH-eVM
He’s at ~9:53 moments before he was shot and killed by Japanese soldiers exiting the rear of the bunker.
Admiral Yamamoto was wrong:
U.S. to take at least 10,000 more Syrian refugees
Could we for chrissakes have one news article that doesn’t involve a grown man crying?
We’re turning into a nation of John Freakin Boehners!
CMOH Citation:
BONNYMAN, ALEXANDER, JR.
Rank: First LieutenantOrganization: U.S. Marine Corps
Company: Division:
Born: 2 May 1910, Atlanta, Ga.Departed: Yes
Entered Service At: G.O. Number:
Date of Issue: Accredited To: New Mexico
Place / Date:
BONNYMAN, ALEXANDER, JR.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the 2d Battalion Shore Party, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, 20-22 November 1943. Acting on his own initiative when assault troops were pinned down at the far end of Betio Pier by the overwhelming fire of Japanese shore batteries, 1st Lt. Bonnyman repeatedly defied the blasting fury of the enemy bombardment to organize and lead the besieged men over the long, open pier to the beach and then, voluntarily obtaining flame throwers and demolitions, organized his pioneer shore party into assault demolitionists and directed the blowing of several hostile installations before the close of D-day.
Determined to effect an opening in the enemy’s strongly organized defense line the following day, he voluntarily crawled approximately 40 yards forward of our lines and placed demolitions in the entrance of a large Japanese emplacement as the initial move in his planned attack against the heavily garrisoned, bombproof installation which was stubbornly resisting despite the destruction early in the action of a large number of Japanese who had been inflicting heavy casualties on our forces and holding up our advance. Withdrawing only to replenish his ammunition, he led his men in a renewed assault, fearlessly exposing himself to the merciless slash of hostile fire as he stormed the formidable bastion, directed the placement of demolition charges in both entrances and seized the top of the bombproof position, flushing more than 100 of the enemy who were instantly cut down, and effecting the annihilation of approximately 150 troops inside the emplacement. Assailed by additional Japanese after he had gained his objective, he made a heroic stand on the edge of the structure, defending his strategic position with indomitable determination in the face of the desperate charge and killing 3 of the enemy before he fell, mortally wounded.
By his dauntless fighting spirit, unrelenting aggressiveness and forceful leadership throughout 3 days of unremitting, violent battle, 1st Lt. Bonnyman had inspired his men to heroic effort, enabling them to beat off the counterattack and break the back of hostile resistance in that sector for an immediate gain of 400 yards with no further casualties to our forces in this zone. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
To shed tears for those who give all so that me and mine might live free is only right and honorable.
Tarawa
It’s been a long time since I have seen you freeping. Are you still around?
Thank you for posting this.
Now look at the Marine Corps leadership and what they’ve done to our guys in Afghanistan who tried to stop “boy rape”.
“From the halls of Montezuma to bowing to Obama on our knees”.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3309981/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/vetscor/3341844/posts
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