FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alexander Bonnyman, Jr ~ October 19, 2009

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.
Story from this website.

           

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Bonnyman grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended Princeton University where he studied engineering and established himself as a football star in his sophomore year, in part for his ferocity on the field. Dropping out of college, he worked first in the coal industry then later moved to New Mexico, where he started a copper mining business.

At the outbreak of the war, Bonnyman was exempt from any military obligation due to his age and role in running a company producing strategically vital material for the war effort. Nevertheless, he signed up for Army Air Corps flight training; he was reportedly washed out "for buzzing too many control towers". Determined to fight, he then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private at Phoenix, Arizona. Bonnyman received his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California.
Bonnyman (4th from right) and his assault party storming Japanese stronghold
This file is a candidate for speedy deletion. It may be deleted after seven days from the date of nomination.

In October 1942, Bonnyman sailed for the South Pacific aboard the SS Matsonia. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Guadalcanal as part of a Marine pioneer unit (akin to a lightly equipped version of an Army combat engineer group). In February 1943, he received a battlefield commission to the rank of second lieutenant in recognition of what his superiors described as exceptional leadership skills.

Bonnyman's civilian background, temperament and skills would come to play an important role at Tarawa in November 1943, where he was assigned to a shore party handling beachhead logistics. When the assault troops were pinned down by heavy enemy artillery fire at the seaward end of the long Betio Pier, on his own initiative Bonnyman organized and led five men over the open pier to the beach. There he voluntarily obtained flame throwers and demolitions and directed the blowing up of several hostile installations.

On the second day of the struggle, Bonnyman, determined to effect an opening in the enemy's strongly defended defense line, led his demolitions teams in an assault on the entrance to a huge bombproof shelter which contained approximately 150 Japanese soldiers. The enemy position was about forty yards forward of the Marine lines. Bonnyman advanced his team to the mouth of the position and killed many of the defenders. His team was forced to withdraw to replenish its supply of ammunition and grenades. Bonnyman again pressed his attack and gained the top of the structure, thereby flushing more than one hundred of its occupants into the open where they were shot down. When the Japanese fought back, the lieutenant stood at the forward edge of the position and killed several attackers before he fell mortally wounded. Betio Island was declared secured on the same day.

Bonnyman was listed as buried at sea by the Navy, but the Missing Personnel Office maintains that his body was "non-recovered"

USNS 1st LT Alex Bonnyman (T-AK-3003), 1985-____, is named in honor of First Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

FIRST LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER BONNYMAN, JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the Second Battalion Shore Party, Eighth Marines, Second Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, from 20 to November 22, 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, First Lieutenant 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 demolitions 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 forty 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 sized the top of the bombproof position, flushing more than one hundred of the enemy who were instantly cut down and effecting the annihilation of approximately one hundred and fifty 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 three of the enemy before he fell, mortally wounded. By his dauntless fighting spirit, unrelenting aggressiveness and forceful leadership throughout three days of unremitting, violent battle, First Lieutenant Bonnyman had inspired his men to heroic effort, enabling them to beat off the counterattack and break the back of hostile resistance in the sector for an immediate gain of four hundred yards with no further casualties to our forces in this zone. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/HARRY S. TRUMAN

Thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice for our country!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, CMN

((HUGS))

Well, it’s Monday, what can I say?

How was your weekend?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Pro ((HUGS))

Hohum, indeed! Have to make the best of it....by reminding myself it pays the bills.

Have a great week.

[beachn4fun]

walking dog?

Are you off or just getting ready for work?

[luvie]

....an' I DO know how you can get! :D

[luvie]

Good mornin', Early Birds!
Hope everyone has a fine Monday!

[ConorMacNessa]

It went pretty well, thanks.

[unique]

[unique]

[unique]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, beachy, and almost going home time for you. ((HUGS))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, Arrowhead...((HUGS))...another sunny day, but temps are a bit chilly. Glad things are cooling off for you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

How is the pup doing? Lots of funny stuff as only a puppy can do?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, Pro...((HUGS))...glad your weather cooperated and you got to work outside. Temps are slowly dropping here.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thank you, Jinxy..
We surely need them.
*HUG*

[MoochPooch]

Back to editing, the usual grind. (But I love my routine!)

[Arrowhead1952]

walking dog?

Are you off or just getting ready for work?

I am on a Tue. - Fri. 4/10 workweek, and have Mondays off. I am in the process of putting up a yard fence and have to punch through a foot of solid limestone shelf to get the posts into the ground. NOT much fun.

[Arrowhead1952]

How is the pup doing? Lots of funny stuff as only a puppy can do?

This is an English Sheep Dog and is almost 6 months old, bu already weighs 40 lbs. She has been a handful for us. We are having problems with her jumping and snapping her teeth at us.

[beachn4fun]

So you got yourself a puppy, huh?

I’m assuming when pup is jumping and snapping, she is doing it playfully, right?

BTW, if you google “dog bad habits” you’ll find some answers to solving the jumping and biting.

My son’s pup who we are keeping for the moment, does the jumping thing and when I googled I found that they do that cause they are happy. It gives hints how to break that.

Females are easier to train and make good dogs. I prefer them to the males.

Good luck.

[beachn4fun]

I know this is the old thread, but I couldn’t resist!

[beachn4fun]

I know this is the old thread, but I couldn’t resist!