Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-05
Marine Pulls Through 2-Week
Trap in Jop-Infested Area
North CoroIino Youth, Wounded and Starved
Fights Way Doggedy Back to Own Lines

hind the Japanese lines and the fire
was coming from the direction of
our lines. I climbed a hill and found
myself behind their lines I re-
solved to find way to cross and
get back to Marine camp.
Slipping back into the woods, I
ran across another Jap. Instinc-
lively, I hit the deck and watched
him moving through the grass. He
had rifle slung over his shoulder
and I could see the outline of a
pistol in his hand, although he had
it covered with a handkerchief.
When he came to a clearing, I fired
shot at him but missed. He stood
erect and stiff, as if by fright. He
didn't see me, but he shouted:
ME hunt! Me hunt"
7 squeezed another shot off and
this time hit him squarely, as I saw
him fall.
Raw Fowl Tastes Good.
Feeling like a hunted animal, 1
kept on the move, hiding behind
bushes, stumps and tall grass. I re-
manned in the woods for two or
three days, keeping out of sight and
sleeping when I could, although I
would awaken from time to time at
the slightest rustling of the grass.
Hungry, I shot a wild fowl and
ate it raw. 1t really tasted good. 1t
rained every night. When I was
thirsty, would take the rotten wood
that had absorbed the rain and
squeeze it until the water ran from
it. I found some cane that tasted
like cabbage. I was glad to find
anything to eat. No matter how
crude it was. it tasted good.
I could hear the Japs talking in
their bivouac areas as kept trying
to get through their lines. I lost all
track of time. I am told that was
out there for almost two weeks.
Sometimes my chest wound both
cred me. When I would inhale and
exhale, air would come through the
hole in my chest and whistle like
the air being released from a foot
ball bladder.
The last night I was there, I
climbed hill and found the path
the Japs made while crawling to
attack our outpost.
Determined to take a desperate
chance, I walked all night and out
flanked their camp. Early in the
morning I lay down to sleep. I was
exhausted. I knew which way I
wanted to go, so before I went to
sleep, I put my rifle down with the
barrel pointing in that direction.
When daybreak came pushed
forward to find my comrades. I
found the hiding places the Japs
had occupied in the initial attack on
our lines. They had used the hol-
lows of trees and little holes with
covering over them. I didn't know
whether more of them were still
around, so kept under cover.
Bombs Began to Fall.
AS I lay there Jap bombers flew
overhead, dropping their bombs
where they thought our troops were
located. I heard no noise of men
scrambling for their foxholes SO I
knew that this area was not occu-
pied by the enemy. I got up and
looked around for food that the
Japs might have left, but found
nothing except a leather saddlebag
I was just about to pry into it when
I heard footsteps.
I dropped and remained still.
saw some men coming through the
grass forming a wide circle, kicking
the grass as if they were looking
for bodies. I drew a head on one
Of them. was just about to let him
have one when he jerked off his
helmet. I saw his blond hair. 1 felt
safe and I raised up to my full
| length and shouted:
Don't shoot"
They fell to the ground to avoid
any possible fire, but soon discovered
I was marine They gave me water
and chocolate bar which I ate like
a man that had never eaten before
It was my first clean drink of water
and I drank full canteen.
The patrol took me back to camp
fed me real food and made me COM
Portable.
feel good now just realizing that
am among my comrades-in-ar arms
Although I lost about so pounds
while I was out, I hope to regain
weight soon asd return to my outfit