Posted: 2/6/2009 4:20:56 PM EDT
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Some time ago last year I posted a map my dad had made of Okinawa during WWII and a lot of you seemed to enjoy it. I also have many pics he took during the war. Some are during training, some in Okinawa, Guam and China. He was in the 6th Marine Divison. He died about 15 years ago.
I'll post a few here. Don't know if I will get to all of them at once or how they will turn out. I may do in different posts or try a couple first to see how they turn out and then edit. These were all black & white taken back in the 40s that I scanned in and put 4 to a page. Most have dad in them and some of his closest friends. Some are postcards from the war days. Camp Lejuene 
Camp Lejuene 
Okinawa - the 6' 8" guy was the company commander. I have his full name - often thought about looking up his heirs and sending them the pic. 
Postcard 
Postcard 
Postcard 
Postcard 
Okinawa 
Okinawa 
Okinawa - dad wrote on the back of the pic that the tank hit a land mine 
Japanese Surrender - on Okinawa I think 
Guam - the guy in the beard was a relative that dad bumped into. That's a Japanese "knee mortar" they are messing with on deck. I guess some of our guys thought the curved piece at the bottom was supposed to fit on your thigh. If you do that and fire it, it's probably a broken leg. 
Guam - I have no earthly idea what dad was doing in a diving suit 
China - I'm not sure what the 6th Marines were doing there 
China - I think they were preparing to leave at this point 
Found one more postcard 
That's it for now. Hope you WWII buffs enjoyed them. |
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Very cool . That is an awesome glimpse into a young mans journey during WWII.
Can you tell us a little bit about your Dad. How old was he in those shots, his dates of service . Also all the different weapons he posed with, were they all issued to his unit, and did he ever speak of wich one he liked best...30cal, Thompson, Garand , .45 etc???? Thanks for sharing Ray. |
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Marine_Division_(United_States)
In July, the division was withdrawn to Guam to prepare for Operation Coronet, the invasion of Honshū planned for April, 1946. After the Japanese surrendered in August, the 6th Division was sent to Tsingtao, China to accept the surrender of the Japanese forces in that area—less the 4th Marines, which was detached and sent to Tokyo to participate in the formal surrender there. The division remained in China until it was disbanded in Tsingtao on March 31, 1946. I think that explains why the 6th was in China... 
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Quoted:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Marine_Division_(United_States) In July, the division was withdrawn to Guam to prepare for Operation Coronet, the invasion of Honshū planned for April, 1946. After the Japanese surrendered in August, the 6th Division was sent to Tsingtao, China to accept the surrender of the Japanese forces in that area—less the 4th Marines, which was detached and sent to Tokyo to participate in the formal surrender there. The division remained in China until it was disbanded in Tsingtao on March 31, 1946. I think that explains why the 6th was in China... Correct. I have more pics of China and dad wrote Tsingtao on the back as the location in country. |
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Quoted:
Back on Guam again....I wonder what plane that is? http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr87/Thismightwork/Dad-Guam1.jpg?t=1233973460 Plane is a Martin PBM Mariner. |
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Mike_48,
Those are great pics! Thanks for sharing them with us!!! I am guessing that the first two pics of the plane are a PBY Catalina based on the the nose and the pontoon on the right wing in the first pic and the way the engine is mounted high in the wing in the second pic. I think the plane in the bottom pic is a different one as that does not look like a PBY tail. ETA: Oops....Maccrage is correct, that is a Martin PBM Mariner! Wow, that is quite a beast!!!! |
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Quoted:
Very cool . That is an awesome glimpse into a young mans journey during WWII. Can you tell us a little bit about your Dad. How old was he in those shots, his dates of service . Also all the different weapons he posed with, were they all issued to his unit, and did he ever speak of which one he liked best...30cal, Thompson, Garand , .45 etc???? Thanks for sharing Ray. Dad was pretty young. Grandma had to give permission in writing for him to go because he was one year under age I think. From what I have read, he was not alone. A lot of guys were pissed and joining up all over the country. I guess he was 17 or so. Like many, he never spoke of the war. I mean he NEVER spoke about it to me. He only said once that it "was a tough time". I think Okinawa was particularly bad from the map I found that I referenced in my first post. That post by me is probably still around. If you want me to post that pic again, I certainly can. He got out of the marines when the war ended. Don't really know about the guns or issuance to their units. Dad was a die-hard 1911 pistol and M1 carbine man during my youth though. |