A weary marine following the battle for Saipan island in
the South Pacific in 1944, a defeat so devastating to Japan
that Prime Minister Tojo Hideki and his entire Cabinet resigned.
What a great picture!
My dad was a marine during World War Twice in the Pacific. Whenever I would ask him what he did during the war, his reply was, invariably: "I dug foxholes! Lots of foxholes!"
Finally, one Christmas we sat him down and interviewed him on video. We had asked him several months before to please think about what he'd like to say in an interview. He told us that he was supposed to have shipped out with his buddies from Texas, but that he was held back for clerical reasons. He missed the Bataan Death March by one week. Many of his buddies didnt make it back from that March.
His work during the war was ordinance. He would take apart live Japanese grenades and mines.
He told of the time he was supposed to get on a troop carrier, and one of his buddies told him to get the next one. That troop carrier was blown up.
One of the things he did was to design a special rack that allowed the Marine airplanes the ability to hold an extra bomb. He also figured out how they could carry a container of spent oil, and when the pilots would see enemy gardens, the oil would be poured on them.
He told us how his father held vigil for him while he was overseas, and had a heart attack shortly after he returned from duty. He told us he was convinced that his dad stayed around just long enough to be sure his son, my dad was ok.
When my brother was serving in Viet Nam, he held a vigil for him. He crossed every day off the calendar and was positively ecstatic at his return. (As were we all!)
I treasure that Christmas video, for he passed on only two months later in 1997.
He loved this nation with all his heart. When my mother and I went on a trip to Europe, he had the option of going along, but his attitude was, "I've already been overseas...dont need to do it again."
Greetings and much love to all who serve in the armed forces. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.