Evening star., 1942-12-13
Marine Patrol Catches
Japs Eating, Kills 19
Without Loss Of Man

Without Loss Of Man
Comp Surrounded
After AII-Nieht Trek
Through Jungle
The tollo,Uing aDas Written by
Sergt. James W. Hurlbut of
Arlington, Va, Marine CORPS
combat correspondent, and dis
tributed by the Associated Press.
TULAGI, Solomon Islands, Nov
8 Delayed Forty Marines have
just returned from the island of
Malaita where they executed one of
the most successful patrol actions
carried out in the three months
American forces have occupied the
Southeastern Solomons.
Led by First 1t. Wendell Grain of
Ada, Okla, the patrol attacked a
22-man Japanese unit at Cape As
trolabe, on the northwest tip of
Malaita. Nineteen Japs were killed
and three wounded. One of the in
Jured was captured and the other
two escaped. Short-wave radio
equipment, machine guns and ri
f1es were seized.
There was not a single marine
casualty.
THE mission was perfectly
planned, perfectly executed and
completely successful" said 1t. Col
Robert G. Hunt Of Coronado. Calf
commanding officer of the contin-
gent which supplied the patrol.
Col. Hunt said it was developed
nrst by Maj. Donald w. Fuller of
Hartland, Me, and that Mai. Fuller
had to leave for Guadalcanal lust
before the patrol was to 20 out so
1t. Grain took charge.
Divided Into Six Teams.
The patrol, accompanied by Rob-
ert Adams, Medical Corps, of San
Oego, Calf, and a Navy hospital
corpsman left Tulagi November 2
IN two small motor boats. Bad
weather and heavy seas DELAYED the
patrol en- route.
Plans for the attack were per-
1ected November 4. The patrol was
split into six teams for practice ma
neuvers so that each man would
know his job.
AT 5 pm. the patrol set out for
the Jap position and travelled
through the jungle for 1919 hours,
arriving at its objective at $50 am,
the next day.
I'VE just got into position on
time" 1t. Grain said. TT was get
ting light when the six teams circled
the camp. We completely covered
three flanks and the ocean was
on the other side so the Japs could
not get away.
The camp was in small clearing
on the coastal road built bv the
British. There were four open sided
shacks. A mess hall, a galley and a
storehouse were along the road and
a wireless shack was situated a few
yards away.
Watched Japs Eat.
"The team I was with crawled
within Is yards of the mess hall.
We watched them walk around,
wash up and brush their teeth, get
ting ready for chow.
"At 7:45 am. IA of them were in
the mess hall eating native potatoes
and bananas and drinking coffee.
We had hoped to get all % together.
But when two of the IA prepared to
leave, I decided to give the signal
to commence firing.
"A corporal in my team had a
tommy gun and the others used
automatic rifles and Springfields.
We got every one of the IA in the
mess hall.
"All the others who were killed
were nearby. Three had walked
down toward the river, the third
was wounded in the chest and ran
into the bush.
Two of them were down at the
beach, one was wounded and he
surrendered when he saw his COM
rade killed.
The rest were just outside the
mess hall. One of them made a
break for the radio shack-prob-
ably to try to send a message-but
he only took about three steps be-
fore he went down.
All Over in Five Minutes.
ut was all over in five minutes.
They didn't fire single shot. It
was 50 sudden and such complete
surprise they didn't even utter a
scream. The one we brought back
big lad-wouldn't talk much be-
cause he was scared to death.
THE natives were overjoyed at
our success. The Japs had been
living on their gardens and stealing
their chickens. The natives gave
us plenty of fruit and sang a lot
of native songs for us: Before we
left, they were all signing the Ma
rine Corps hymn.
The day we left they lined up
and gave us three cheers in typical
British fashion-you know, Hip,
hip. hurrah! Hip, hip, hurrah!'-
just like that"
One member of the patrol, First
Sergt. Clifford j. Robichaud. jr.. of
Belmont, N. H., had a pleasant sur
prise in store for him back at Tulagi.
He learned he had been commits
stoned second lieutenant. He en-
listed in June, 1910, advanced from
private to first sergeant in less than
two years.
Randolph Predicts Italy