Raymond Pursell
Sgt. Grit,
My dad, Raymond Pursell, was in the Pacific Theatre in WWII.
His service time was 1943 to 1946. The group picture of his
platoon says 380th Platoon, San Diego, 1943 (Boot Camp). From
there he went to radio school and then on to Camp Pendleton
where he joined the 2nd Separate Engineer's Battalion, and via
the VAC- 5th Amphibious Corps, went to Iwo Jima in February of
1945. I am including a picture of him.
Proud daughter of a WWII vet
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Okinawa 1945
080 Okinawa 1945, We always defused and then removed. Think
those big cumbersome suits they use today would have helped if we
had made a mistake. I'm not in the picture because I'm taking
it.
079 Okinawa 1945, the one with the goggles is my classmate
from Bomb Disposal School. 14" Naval shell.
078 Ie Shima (off Okinawa) 1945, Nothing changes, these are
from a few days work. The bombsand mines were uses as IED's, the
wooden boxes are suicide bombs. 60 odd years ago.
Charlie Bauman
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Japanese General
A Japanese General's letter to his men toward the end of the
Saipan campaign.
This is an original copy of the translation.
Semper Fi!
Lou Lowrie
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Honoring a Marine Raider
Hello!
My name is Sandy Tuzinski and I just wanted to share a quilt I was able to make to honor a WWII USMC Marine Raider in our church congregation.
His name is Edmund Lawrence and he served in the Pacific Theater in WWII.
This presentation was a TOTAL surprise for Ed as he had no idea I was making this quilt for him and I was able to locate three Semper Fidelis US Marines to take time out of their busy lives to help present this flag quilt to Ed during the church service.
We all honored a great living American that day to thank him for his service to our country.
It was a BLESSED day!
Sandy Tuzinski
Bloomington, MN
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Sands of Iwo Jima
To whom it may concern,
I went to Iwo Jima on a historical tour in March of 2005 and collected a bit of sand myself.
Ron Montgomery
Sgt/USMC 85-97
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Sands of Iwo Jima
Sgt. Grit,
Just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to own a little bit of the sacred sand of Iwo Jima. It took me a little while to find how I wanted to present this peace of Marine Corps history but I finally figured it out. I have attached a picture and hope all will enjoy.
It will always be displayed proudly..........Semper Fi
Rick Anthony
CWO-4, USMC, Retired
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I Am Looking
Sgt Grit:
I am looking at 2 small bottles of Iwo sand. I received these from my friend and Iwo veteran Alvin Dunlap. The first one is very coarse and very black. He said he had brought it home when he left Iwo in 1945, and he said that's the way I remember it. The second bottle was given to him from some friends Who made a visit to Iwo in 1996 and from Red Beach. It is much more of a brownish color. Perhaps that is what they mean when they say "time heals everything". I will attach a picture of Alvin as it appeared in the March 1945 issue of Yank Magazine. The same photo was used in the Marines "Guidebook for Marines" about 194,7 as the face sheet for chapter 3. He also has appeared in several videos.
I am also saddened by the recent loss of another Iwo Jima veteran Chuck Lindberg the last living survivor of the first flag raisers. I will miss my many phone visits with Chuck. For those who will say there are other living survivors of that event I could once again explain the difference between "Flag Raisers" and Flag Raising Participants". But I don't want to get involved in that controversy again.
Who I am--Vernon (Tom) Mc Nulty
Waterloo IA (home of the 5 Sullivan Brothers US Army 1945-1946 US Marine Corps 1947-1952 Still a Marine
There are not enough words to express my thanks for your dedication to my beloved Corps. When my budget allows I will continue to buy only items that Chesty would approve of.
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Iwo Jima Sand
Sgt: Grit:
The attached photo is of one of my treasures on my "I Like Me Wall" and was given to me by my Supply Section as a going away present. It is front and center and right below the Marine Corps Seal, the place of honor. As this is most likely the most revered photo of the Marine Corps it is only fitting that it be so placed - between my Retirement Certificate and my Awards display. This has the Photo, the .03 cent stamp of the same picture, and a small bag of sand from Iwo Jima (retrieved by a friend on the visit to the island and matted by his wife in the frame).
v
Every Marine who has seen this has wanted one but unfortunately there are no more like this one. I can't provide more but can share the photo.
Semper Fidelis,
Jim McDonald
CWO4 USMCR RETIRED
1958 - 1966 & 1975 - 1998
Newark, CA
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Iwo Jima Sand
Sgt Grit,
I just wanted to show you what I did with the Iwo Jima sand I recieved. My husband won the sand from your contest, then gave it to me for my birthday, he's such a romantic *big smile*. So being a proud Marine and diehard scrapbooker I did this with the sand. Naturally the sand is in the container with a picture of the flag raising behind it.
Semper Fi,
Anna Grabill
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Iwo Jima Sand
Sgt Grit,
Thanks so much for the little piece of real estate so many gave their lives securing. That little bag is pinned to the photo of the Rosenthal picture in my office. I now have a conflict. After reading the letters of some of the 399 other recipients, I feel unworthy of owning this little bit of sacred soil. I served from 84 to 97 and was in three hot spots during my career. None of which compares to the fight for Iwo Jima. I am the Commandant of the Lehigh Valley Det in Allentown, PA. I’ve gone through the roster of members and none served on IWO. So my dilemma is whom to do I present this artifact too? The letter that struck me was of the Marine who will spread some on the grave of his uncle. What a fitting tribute. I feel lucky to be one of the 400 and am grateful. I hope to find a deserving Marine in the future. Thanks again and Semper Fi!
Howard Cooper
Commandant Lehigh Valley Detachment #296
Department of PA, Marine Corps League
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Old Meets New
I have attached a picture from our Armed Forces/Memorial Day Parade. The Grand Marshall was Les Brown, a WWII Pacific Guadalcanal Combat vet. The Marine Corps Recruiters picked him up and drove him in the Parade in the new Hummer. PFC Brown is wearing his uniform from 1944. He is one of the few that could still fit in his uniform. The Marines from the Albany Detachment were impressed and the CO and Sgt. Major came to greet him.
We take care of our own and we don't forget them either. Notice in WWII, We only had Chevrons on one side of the uniform
Greg Bourlotos
--
ADJUTANT American Legion Fred L. Stilson Post 57
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WWII USMC Hero
My Grandfather just recently passed away, he was "My-Hero", and I miss him so much. Thought maybe you'd care to share this with other Marines.
Kathi Salinas
Proud-Granddaughter of a USMC-HERO"
Semper-Fi
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Pelelui Revisited
I have had the privilege and honor of visiting many of our WW2 Marine battlefields over the years and this past January, I visited Peleliu for the second time. With almost a full week of exploration, I was able to traverse much of the battlefield and get a feel for the terrain that our Marines dealt with in 1944. While the jungle has taken over much of the battlefield, one can still readily see how impossible the terrain was......craggy, sharp coral dominates the battlefield, whether it be low-lying coral ridges or the Umobrogal Mountains. I can't imagine fighting there, especially considering that in September 1944, there was very little foliage and the temperatures hovered around 100+ degrees. We explored Bloody Nose Ridge, Pope's Ridge, the Point, and the coral Badlands, just to name a few. Signs of a desperate, horrific fight were everywhere. A Japanese tank still sits on the airfield where it was taken out by the 5th Marines...LTV's can be found.......shrapnel and battlefield debris are everywhere. We climbed and crawled through Bloody Nose Ridge, stopping at each fighting position, marveling at how the 1st Division Marines conquered a dug in enemy. While Iwo Jima and Tarawa hold much of our attention in Marine Corps history, Peleliu is arguably the toughest battle our Marines fought in WW2, when you consider the ferocity of the enemy, the climate, and the terrain.
I am including a picture I took from the Point area on White Beach. This shows the view that the Japanese had as they took aim at our Marines landing. It is easy to see how they could inflict such heavy casualties and why taking that position and the heavy machine gun positions behind it were so key to victory. I am looking to talk to any Peleliu veterans so please contact me at my email address below if interested.
Semper fi,
Bruce Carter
4th Division, 14th Marines
USMCR '72-'77
bcarter436@aol.com
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Peleliu Pictures
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302nd Seabees Peleliu Photo
Submitted by John Ratomski
Photograph caption reads: "Veteran 1st Marine Division men leave island with Jap garrison flag."
Peleliu was invaded on September 15, 1944. Pontoons were under the direction of Lieut.-Comdr. Littlejohn. Peleliu had been Jap-held for twenty years and it was the nearest strike, at the time, to the Philippines, some six hundred miles to the west. The reef was five hundred yards off-shore and entailed the longest causeway construction from ship to shore up to that time in the Pacific. The reef was in perfect Jap mortar range and they kept it well covered. Barges stood in close to refuel small craft and LVT's as the Marines kept driving further inland to stop the mortar fire. Surf delayed unloading operations as heavy seas broke over the causeways. A few days later, a new landing was made on the other side of the island. Tanks and guns came ashore and the Marines were fighting steadily on against the stubborn defender who was doomed.
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Okinawa Paradrop Run
Marine R4Q Packet (Flying Boxcar) on way to dropzone on Okinawa in Nov., 1958
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Peleliu Island
Dear Sgt. Grit,
My stepson Graduated from MCRD San Diego in May of this year, and from S.O.I. last month. He is now in VA training for FAST.
Returning to San Diego brought back a lot of memories for me since the last time I was there, I WAS THERE! I can't even describe how I felt when they called for anyone who had served in the Marines to stand and everyone clapped. I felt honored just to be standing among them and to be counted as one of them.
Recently, my wife and I celebrated our anniversary at a music festival. She made a trip out to car for a jacket and came back with a piece of paper in her hand. On one side, there was printed instructions and rules for use of the parking lot during the festival, no alchohol, no overnight parking, etc. On the other side was a handwritten note. It said, "Thank you and your son for your service, from another Marine mom."
Obviously, we have no idea who left the note but I just wanted to share it with you and your readers and the MOM who wrote it is one of your readers, Thank You!
I'm also including a picture that I took when I was in Echo 2/3. The ship in the background is the USS Peleliu taken from Peleliu Island.
Thanks,
Kevin P. Walsh (0311)
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Mary Graham Knapp
Mary Graham Knapp, born 15 December 1918, gone to guard heaven's gates 29 march 2006.
Mary served in the United States Marine Corps during WWII and was a past president of the Women marines Association. Mary was buried on Davis Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada, with two former active duty female Marines and four active duty male Marines acting as her pallbearers.
Rest in peace, dear sister.
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Plt. 1110, 1942
Sgt. Grit.
I was dragged along with my wife to the antiques fair (junk sale) at the old
Alameda Naval Air Station in SF Bay. Bored out of my gourd, I took leave of
my wife and started wandering around. Lo and Behold at one stand was this
picture of Platoon 1110 from 1942 sitttin' among a bunch of junk.
Having served in the Marine Reserves for six years, two of those at Alameda
NAS, I couldn't let that old Marine photo go. I offered the guy five bucks
and he took it.
As I left with a piece of history I took a closer look at the cover that it
came in. On the back were 22 names of the guys from the photos. Looking at
the photo, the names, and the year of their graduation, I couldn't help but
wonder how many of them survived the next three years and how many heros
were made from that platoon.
I'd be interested if any of the Marines are still around from this photo. If
anyone knows anybody in the photo I can be contacted through my email:
matthew_mcdonell@hotmail.com.
Thanks and Semper Fi
Matt McDonell
Comm Plt., MWSS-472 (Det. Bravo),MAG 42 and MAG 46. 1990-92 Comm Plt., Hq
Co., 23rd Marines. 1992-1996
Here's the list of the names from the back:
Eldrige Bailey, Don Dotson, Harley Fiacue, William Gomes, Bunn Slator, Chuck Barr,
Eugene Blome, ,Ralph Hauser, Tracie Bell Jr., Carl Watts, Roland Renaud, Robert Zane,
Palmer Mundahl, Jesse Bradley, Jose Aguilar, Jim Dunleavey, G. Bullard, James Baldwin,
Jerry Wenger, M. Spiers, Wallace Sibley, Gary DeHoet
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Marine Corps League
 I echo the comments of James "Chino" Meade in your last letter about the Marine Corps League. The League carries on the traditions and values of the Corps. For example members of our local Detachment participated in nearly 190 funeral honor guards and over 50 civic events this last year. Its not about the numbers but rather the opportunity to display the colors, traditions and values that have been handed down to us.
On a cold, windy Saturday here in the Northeast our honor guard formed once again to administer honors to a fellow veteran who passed away. Afterward we were invited to join the family, friends and parishioners of the deceased. After a prayer the officiating priest made it a point to introduce and thank the "Marines" of the honor guard. That's what it is about...the most recognizable uniform, the most envied esprit de corps, and traditions and values that everyone should aspire to. They have been passed on to us for care and to pass on to those who succeed us.
With that said I would like to introduce two active members of that honor guard who were recently honored for prior active duty service. John Conklin (left), left high school at sixteen and enlisted in the Navy and served in a Seabee battalion in the Pacific during WWII. In late 1949 John joined the Marine Corps and eventually ended up in Korea north of the 38th parallel. On July 2, 1952, and while serving with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines John was wounded while defending a position known as Bunker Hill. He was eventually evacuated to the hospital ship USS New Haven. John was recently awarded a long overdue Purple Heart. Al Rood (right) refused a deferment to finish high school and entered the Marine Corps in December, 1943. Al was part of the 3rd Battalion, 8th wave which landed on Iwo Jima. Al spent 36 days on Iwo and personally witnessed the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi. Al was part of assault force heading for the invasion of Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped. Al was recently presented with his long overdue combat action ribbon.
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World War II
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