IX
the trees away proved quite an arduous
task, especially as they could not be
burned due to black-out regulation.
Seventeen days after work started our
first plane landed. In a matter of an
other week or so quite a fleet of bomb
ers were stationed here and bombing
operations were under way. From this
island Truk, Ponape, Saipan and Tin
ian were bombed regularly for a m at
ter of about five months, after which
our forces took over other bases farther
west.
“ Today Enimetok is only a stopping
place, and shunned by most personnel.
It’s greatest elevation above sea level
does not exceed 15 feet. There is no
fresh water available in any quantity
so that all fresh water comes from
portable distillers. Practically all the
trees are dead due to the terrific shell
ing and bombing they received. The
soil is poor; most of the island is com
posed of coral sand which blows con
siderably due to the continually strong
trade winds. The island is crescent
shaped about 2 J4 miles long and per
haps 3,000 feet wide at its widest place,
although the average width would not
exceed 1,000 feet. A t the peak o f its
use our shore forces numbered more
than 6,000 men. W ith all these men
stationed ashore and with practically
every yard of the island occupied with
some sort of installation, the last Jap
that was liquidated survived six weeks
after the island was secured.
“ Service men who only pass through,
extend a hearty sympathy to those who
have stayed there any length of time.
Those who have lived there a time will
remember swarms of flies, hot drink
ing water, and tons and tons of “ C
Rations.” Like many places it has
served its purpose and time goes on
forgetting the importance of little
places and little incidents of the past.”
A young marine, who could make
Baron Munchausen exert himself, was
sitting under a cocoanut tree on a trop
ical island relating to a few comrades
an incident that occurred during a re
cent battle. When he ran out o f facts
he began to draw upon his imagination,
to such an extent soon he could tell
by the looks on his listeners that they
questioned his entire story.
Earnestly he said to them, "Strike
me dead fellas if it an’t the truth.” A t
that moment a cocoanut fell, striking
him on the top of his helmet. Pale and
obviously shaken he got to his feet and
looking skyward said, "W ell, maybe I
did exaggerate a little.”
When the Marines landed on Peliliu
they were confronted with the Japanese
Imperial Marines. For size and bravery,
these men would have been a credit to
any nation. Few were under six feet in
height or weighed less than 200 pounds.
They were the flowers o f Japanese
manhood.
W ith the first Marine Division were
a number of colored boys. Their duty
was to carry supplies to the front and
carry the wounded back. Their cheer
fulness and willingness to work long,
¡hard hours under all conditions earned
the respect of their white comrades.
A platoon of these colored Marines
had arrived at the front lines too late
in the day to return to their post before
nightfall. As anydne out of a fox hole
after dark was considered an enemy,
the platoon was told they were to re
tire about a thousand feet to the rear
and dig in for the night. It was easily,
seen that this did not meet with their
approval.
Finally a sergeant said, “ Captain sir,
we’ve never had a chance to spend the
night up front and we’d like to get us
a few Japs. We want something to talk
about when we get home. D o you sup
pose we could do some guard duty to
night and let a few more white boys
rest?”
(Continued on Page 22)