The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-09-10

: Midway. while we were on the beach,
marines would talk out of the woods
and ask for a smoke. We'd give it and
ask how it was going. The most they
would say was "okay. Have to go
back and get a couple in there" | re-
member asking one if our losses were
heavy. He said "they've killed some
of us"
.Japs Shot Through Head
The beach was sprnkled with
bodies of Japs. Most of the Japs were
shot through the head. The laps
were apparently veteran troops They
didn't look very young. Some of their
uniforms were much like the marines
except for different colored leggings
and cartridge belts.
The marines were allowed to carry
whatever weapons they chose All had
knives, which they spent the night
before the attack sharpening. | re-
member one boy who must have been
a Texan. He had twin bandoliers of
cartridges across his chest and an
other around his waist Two as auto
MATES in open holsters were at his
sides, with another in shoulder
holster. A long machete was fastened
to his belt. And completing his equip
mcnt Was-a tOmmygun.
The marines told me the Japs
spoke good English and used clever
tricks. One Jap took the clothes from
a dead marine and started to pass our
sontrics just at dusk. The Jap SLAPPED
a sentry on the back and inquired,
"whats doing, kidd The sentry
answered, "ncver mind what's cook
ing" Then the marine shot him.
,Japs Prove Tricky
The first night ashore the marines
occupied large building but decided
to sleep outside, and posted scntries.
The next morning they went to re-
enter thf building and we're met by
machine gun fire. Somehow during
the night fourteen Japs had got
through our lines and into the house.
The marines burned them out.
Jars hid everywhere. | saw one in a
tiny hole in a rock. 1t looked as if he
had been born there and grown up to
fit the hole He was dead. sitting
cross-leggod.
No doubt about it, the Japs really
fought. One Jap colonel cut his throat
as he was about to be captured An
other colonel shot himself. They wore
ribbons of the Manchurian campaign.
Some soldiers had printed money
marked "Honan province" and other
tokens indicating they were veterans
of the China war.
The Japs also carried money printed
for the Solomons on blue paper with
pictures of palm trees and words
Japanese Government One Shilling"
He Only Killed Ten
| talked to one marine in the woods
and asked, "How many have you
killed." He answered, "Only ten. The
others were killing them left and
right"
The marines let us wander every
where on the island, but we stopped
doing it much when we learned they
were using us as bait to trap snipers.
Several times bluejacket would
walk past a marine crouching silent
/ ~ by the path. The blueiackct would
get a few feet past when he would
hear shots-onc from sniper aiming
at him and the other from the marine
who'd been waiting for the sniper to
give away his position.
All the time we were unloading,
shooting was going ON not far from
us, At one point the marines were
throwing grenades into holes in the
cliffs to get the Japs out
/ Seeing those marines fight made
| you proud of them. I'd heard about
the Japs' suicidal charges. But those
marines were entirely oblivious of
their own safety. They walked right
into fire and when some of them were
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