Posted on 10/13/2024 7:39:26 AM PDT by DFG
Hershel 'Woody' Williams is 17 years old and lives on a dairy farm in Quiet Dell, West Virginia, with his mother and 11 siblings. War is coming; one, he is sure, that will take away America's freedoms and privileges.
Marines wear snappy blue uniforms around town and Woody is impressed. If he's going to war, he's going as a Marine. But, at 17, he needs his mother's signature to enlist.
Mom refuses to sign the papers. He turns 18 next October - if he wants to be a Marine, he's going to have to wait.
December 7, 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.
November 1942: Woody walks into the Marine Corps recruiting office. The recruiter doesn't so much as glance at his papers. The man is too busy studying Woody's stature.
'I can't take you,' the recruiter says. 'You're too short.'
To be a Marine, Woody is told, you must be five eight or better. He's five six.
His two brothers have been drafted by the Army. He might've seriously considered following in their footsteps if it weren't for the Army's old brown wool uniform. It's the ugliest thing in town.
I want to be in those dress blues, he thinks. If he can't be a Marine, well, he's not going.
Woody returns to working on the dairy farm with Mom.
In early 1943, the recruiter shows up on his doorstep. The Marine Corps, he explains, has lowered the height requirement.
'Do you still want to go?'
'Yes,' Woody replies, and signs up.
He's sent 8,000 miles from home. On the boat, he looks at a map of the pork chop-shaped island of Iwo Jima.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It took 6 weeks to secure the island. Crazy. Eastwood did a good job on those 2 flicks.
Amazing how many Marines signed up based on the ‘snappy blue uniform’, that only the recruiters wore. It truly was a more innocent time, which is a little unfortunate.
Unfortunately, I've read similar of young Germans volunteering for the SS due to the look of the snappy black uniforms and sound of the hobnailed boots on cobblestone pavers as they would march down city streets singing.
That man was a true hero. What a horrible war. The leftist liberals here simply don’t realize what they are about to start.
Amazing how many Marines signed up based on the ‘snappy blue uniform’, that only the recruiters wore.
I don’t know if this find gentlemen was part of the 5th. My uncle was, and the association is still active:
https://5thmarinedivision.org/
here is their latest news letter: The chaplain story is interesting.
https://5thmarinedivision.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Spearhead-Newsletter-July-2024.pdf
https://www.usmcofficer.com/commandants-reading-list
In 1989, General Al Gray promulgated the first Commandant’ s Reading List and challenged Marines of every rank to re-dedicate themselves to the study of their profession. Our twenty-ninth Commandant clearly understood that the development and broadening of the mind is a critical aspect of the true warrior ‘s preparation for battle. General Gray viewed reading as a means of preparing for the future, and combat in particular. He ensured that his Marines knew he considered mental preparation as important as physical conditioning or even MOS training.
The male young are into joining a group. Even a street gang, just to belong.
Why? For many, since their home life with a father is nonexistent, they join a street gang.
https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Spearhead-World-History-5th-Marine-Division/17179818332/bd
The above is the official history published in 1950. I have a copy from my uncle who was injured on Iwo Jima.
The 5th also published 3 short 40 page publications full of pictures and comments like a high school year book. These were given to the marines and many sent home to family.
Volume I was Bootcamp
Volume II was Iwo Jima
Volume III was Occupation.
I have copies of these also, sent them to the 5th association for publication but don’t know what happened to them.
In many ways the marines were glory hounds, but it aint braggin’ if you did it.
If anyone would like pdf of the small publications, pm me with your address.
Thank you for posting.
Based on the shoulder insignia at the linked photos (1 of 17) it appears he was with the 3rd Marine Division.
My father had some of that black volcanic ‘sand’ from the beach. Some of his buds went back to Iwo and brought him the sand. He wasn’t able to make the trip himself.
“Amazing how many Marines signed up based on the ‘snappy blue uniform’, that only the recruiters wore.”
Every Marine can wear the Dress Blue uniform when the situation or regulations call for it.
L
******
And there's your sign things aren't going well...
Loved the chaplain’s assistant’s miracle story (see Ken Brown title). I recommend it.
Times were different during WW2, especially at the start - only recruiters wore the blues as a duty uniform. If you read some of the autobiographies of WW2 Marines - many, many of them mention wanting to wear that uniform, and never seeing one again after they joined up.
When the fighting starts, the leftist liberals will be hiding in their mother’s basement.
Since the island is on a volcano, it is rising out of the ocean. abandoned tanks and other wrecked equipment formerly under water is rising out of the ocean.
Thanks. I didn’t know that.
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