True story of the recovery of 19 US Marines Killed in Action on Makin Island in WWII and their return home to Arlington National Cemetery 58 years later. Story: Pat Mendoza. Music arranged by Pat Mendoza Trumpet: Steve Wiest. Singers: the Islanders and Pat Mendoza
So my monitor (another Marine that is normally the same rank who decides where other Marines get assigned) calls me yesterday and had some news. The place I wanted to go in Camp Lejeune wasn't open anymore and the other places in Lejeune were likely not going to happen. But the good news was that the Commo position (the S-6) for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was open - in Okinawa. I told her to give me a bit and I talked it over with my wife. We both agreed it was a good time and we notified the monitor that it was a go. This is a primo position, too! It is one of 7 MEU commo positions in the Corps so they are hard to get. Our report date will be no later than 1 July so there won't be much time after school for us to get packed visit family and get there.
I will keep everyone updated as I get news. The good things is that I know several people over there that I have been working with over the last few years. I also already had a trip to Oki planned for April so this will also serve as a time to do some recon. Can't wait!
Today marks the 67th anniversary of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. The invasion started on the 19th and it took the next 4 days to make it up the mount Suribachi. I won't go through all the details as I think everyone knows them. Here are some images:
The first flag raising by SSGT Louis R. Lowery,
The USMC Memorial in DC - I had my 2ndLt bars pinned on there at the monument in Dec 1999
The stamp
The current memorial on Suribachi
The Picture
Mt Suribachi in the distance
"Smashed by Jap mortar and shellfire, trapped by Iwo's treacherous black-ash sands, amtracs and other vehicles of war lay knocked out on the black sands of the volcanic fortress." PhoM3c. Robert M. Warren, ca. February/March 1945. 26-G-4474
I am looking for any information or photos of my Grandfather, Vernon Snodgrass - 1108th Group, 48th Combat Engineers Battalion, Company B.
To the best of my knowledge, my grandfather entered the service in 1942, trained at Camp Walthers Texas, Camp Gruber Oklahoma, Camp Polk Louisiana, and then traveled with the 48th to North Africa and onto Italy.
He was wounded on January 14, 1944 near San Pietro, Italy.... but I am not sure what happened after that.... Either due to injuries sustained in San Pietro, or injuries from a later enguagement, he was sent to a hospital, after the hospital stay he was reassigned to the 337th Quartermasters and spent the remainder of the war in Leghorn, Italy.
I would appreachite any assistance you can provide. Thank you In advance.
PS - Here is a general list of my Granddad's where-a-bouts during the war.
1941
September 11, 1941 - Entered Military Service
1942
September 23, 1942 - Married high school sweetheart
October 1942 - Private - CoD 64th Inf. Training Battalion (Camp Walters, Tx)
December 1942 - Made Private First Class
November 18, 1942 - Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
December 18-20, 1942 - Took weekend furlough from Camp Gruber and returned
home (Liberal, Mo) for a visit
1943
February 1943 - Captain
March 1943 - Training at Camp Polk Louisiana
June 1943 - Back at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
July (First week - 15), 1943 - On leave, back to Liberal, Missouri
August 14'ish, 1943 - Traveled to New England States
August 20, 1943 - Boarded USS Edmund Alexander on New York Harbor (for 2
week trip to North Africa)
September 4, 1943 - North Africa
October 21, 1943 - Italy
December 15-23, 1943 worked on the "Express Highway" (Italy)
1944
January 4-8, 1944 - 1108th Cited for Outstanding Performance
January 12, 1944 - Wounded (Purple Heart) - Near San Pietro, Italy (Spent
time in Hospital)
April 1944 - Reassigned to the 337th Quarter Master Supply Company
1945
April 1945 - Sergeant
May 8, 1945 - European VE Day
June 1945 - Leghorn, Italy
October 23, 1945 - Left Leghorn, for Naples to board a ship back to the
