| STOP THE ROT
Our base camp was soon established with all
facilities in operation, along the sandy beach. By this time the jungle rot had spread
over such a large part of my body, that it was painful to wear clothing and move about. I
knew I had no alternative but to answer sick call.I was immediately confined to sick bay
after being "read off "for waiting so long to report my condition.
When my treatment began, Dr. Marsh (no relation)
explained to me that the Medical Department had never encountered the tropical skin
diseases that were afflicting troops in the south pacific. As a result they were resorting
to trial and error methods in their efforts to find an effective treatment. So I became
experimental with a different medication on the various parts of my body. Finally, after a
few weeks without result, Dr. Marsh in desperation told me to go to the beach and lay in
the water with my body submerged. Then, in a few hours to lay on the beach in the sun. I
was to alternate water and sun throughout the daylight hours. My condition began to
improve immediately to the astonishment of Dr. Marsh and myself. I was soon able to wear
clothes and visit the platoon and squad areas of the Company but Dr. Marsh would not yet
release me. I learned that we had received replacements and met the new members of my
Squad. They were brothers whom I will call F.J. and W.J. and were friendly, outgoing and
very enthusiastic about the Raiders. As their Squad leader I observed that they were close
and very attached to one another.
Our Company was soon stirring with activity as
O and P Companies embarked for the Segi Pt.- Viru harbor operation and N and Q companies
were preparing for the attack on Vangunu. Dr Marsh gave me written authorization to remain
with the rear echelon which, I destroyed and returned to Q Company. The jungle rot had
almost disappeared and would never again be a serious problem.
COL.CURRIN’S COMMAND
I highlighted the Segi Pt.-Viru operation in the
previous Historical Review. There are many excellent detailed histories of the advance and
attack on Viru and it would be presumptuous of me to cover the same ground. I will list
that material in the section I call The Good Stuff. I do however, want to make this
statement. The advance of Col. Currin’s Raiders from Segi Pt. was an incredible
military and human achievement and ranks alongside "Edsons Ridge" and "The
long Patrol" in the annals of this nation’s wars.
On 9 July, as noted before, Currin’s Raiders
embarked on LCI’s at Viru and went ashore 10 July at Tetere to reorganize and await
the arrival of Major Clark’s command.
MAJOR CLARK’S COMMAND-VANGUNU
For the reasons given above I will not supplement the
account of the battle of Kaeruka or the subsequent events. I will however, add this
lengthy note.
NOTE:[I debated with
myself about adding this information but, finally I decided in the affirmative. Time will
determine if my decision was sound. Before Q Company crossed the Kaeruka river I was
instructed to send a man to the left ,once we were across, to make contact with N Company
who were to cross simultaneously. This was a sound and normal procedure since my squad was
the left flank unit of the company. Once across I moved down the line to F.J. who was on
the left and gave him those same instructions. I also cautioned him to stay low behind the
river bank until he encountered N Company personnel. We were under heavy fire so I moved
quickly to the center of the squad to attend to the business at hand. During the course of
the battle and the establishing of our defensive perimeter that evening F.J. did not
return to the squad. I hoped that he was with N Company but was very uneasy because of his
absence. While securing the area the following day his remains were discovered. I learned
much later, that only one man of N Company succeeded in crossing the river due to intense
enemy fire. Severely wounded he directed fire upon the enemies positions ,then returned to
his Company’s lines where he succumbed from his wounds. I was never informed of the
manner of F.J’s death. When we returned to Tetere W.J. held the hurt inside him as
long as he could and then gave loud voice to the suspicions he was harboring. A battle
raged in the soul of both of us for months. Eventually he came down to K Company for a
visit. We had a long talk and a measure of peace came to us both. My purpose in this is :
May the Marine Corps live forever, but may two brothers never
again be assigned to the same squad or platoon.]
Following an interval of combat patrolling on Gatukai
Island N and Q Companies returned to Vangunu, embarked on APD’s and arrived at Tetere
13 July. There the Battalion reunited again prepared to join the Northern Landing Force at
Enogai Inlet.
4th RAIDERS-BAIROKO
This battle has also been analyzed and reported in
great detail by many more qualified than myself. I will not attempt to supplement in any
way their excellent work.
For myself, and perhaps others, the details of the
battle are just a ghastly blur. But, the intense fury of it remains firmly anchored in my
memory. In the history of this nation’s wars it may appear as small and
insignificant. I believe however, in its savage nature it is comparable to the Cornfield
and Sunken Road at Antietam, the Muleshoe at Spottsylvania, and in a sense the Union
assault at Cold Harbor. Like those battles Bairoko is now history and enough has been
said.
Early morning 21 July, the slow painful withdrawal to
Enogai got underway. The wounded were evacuated and the Raiders of both Battalions took up
again their defensive positions. Vigorous reconnaisance and combat patrols were resumed as
well as a general consolidation of defensive positions. On a date I can no longer recall I
was evacuated with others to the Naval Hospital at Tulagi with acute gastroenteritis where
I made a slow recovery.
On 29 Aug. the 4th Raiders returned to
Tetere on APD transport and a few days later boarded the USS American Legion arriving at
Nounea, New Caledonia 8 Sept. The Battalion then took up quarters at Camp Allard at
Mission St. Louis. When released from the hospital I rejoined the platoon at that
location.
REST AND CIVILIZATION
During the next weeks, the Raiders were allowed to
rest, enjoy the change of climate, and the sites and sounds of Noumea. Prices for food
were outrageous and we were not exactly welcomed with open arms by the local populace.
They were I believe, sick of the war, sick of the military presence of many nations and
longed for the good old days.
We also received replacements and began integrating
them into our units.On1 Oct. the persistent rumors we were hearing became a reality. The
Battalion would be divided and in echelon travel to New Zealand for what I will call a
vacation. As I recall Q Company was in the first echelon, boarded the SS Mormacport 1 Oct.
at Noumea and arrived at Auckland New Zealand 3 Oct. On debarking, we proceeded by train
to an Army facility at Mangere, where we were housed during our stay.
The Raiders crammed the next sixteen days with
experiences they would never forget. The people of Auckland were kind, generous and
treated us with a respect and honor I am sure we did not deserve. The food was glorious
and my menu rotated between, steak and eggs, steak and chips and steak and oysters. Our
vacation sped by, but those wonderful people of Auckland will forever be lodged in my
memory. When we returned to the war we knew our efforts were worthwhile and appreciated.
On 19 Oct.we left Mangere, boarded the USS Tryon at
Auckland, sailed and disembarked at Noumea 22 Oct. proceeding from there to our camp.
Refreshed and renewed we were ready to train and prepare for our next mission. The Company
was again strong in spirit, in great condition, resilient and ready for whatever the
future might bring.
The next few weeks passed quickly and pleasantly and
in mid December we were alerted for movement. The 4th Raiders embarked 21 Dec.
at Noumea on the MV Bloem Fontain, sailed and arrived 24 Dec. at Tassafaronga Guadalcanal.
During the following weeks, the 2nd and 3rd Raiders returned from
Bougainville and the four Raider Battalions were in camp together for the first and last
time as Marine Raiders.
CUT AND PASTE
After several administrative procedures to facilitate
the planned changes the final action was taken.
The Raiders were "cut" from their Raider
"folder" so it could be deleted and then "pasted" into the folder that
became empty when the Fourth Marines burned their colors and submitted to surrender at
Corregidor.
WAS THE BEST YET TO COME-STAY TUNED
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Find Out What Became of the Raiders!
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