Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-05

THE tolIolDing story Uas pre-
pared By Sergt. Leopold Jupiter
OF NeU York City, a Marine
Corps combat correspondent at
Guadalcanal)
GUADALCANAL, Nov. Is Ode.
layed Lost in the jungle of en-.
emy-held territory on Guadalcana
for almost two weeks, Wallace E
Wynn, 20, private, first class, Of
Thomasville, N. c., survived a lone
desperate fight against the Japs anc
the forces of nature.
I found him at one of the medica
stations, where he was treated fol-
a chest wound and malnutrition.
His story, as related to me, fol.
lows:
I was with platoon Of men sent
out to relieve the watch at an out
post on hill near the front lines.
While I was on post I saw Japs
coming up the hill at us. I called
for assistance because there were
too many for us to take care of
we challenged them, but they out
f1anked us and ambushed us.
could see them bayoneting some OF
our men in hand-to-hand combat.
We killed many of them, however.
Overtaken by Two.
Three of us kept together. After
the fight we took off through the
woods. In the moonlight I saw two
Japs coming through the bushes.
hid behind log and remained quiet.
They approached and I could hear
one Of them humble something. He
reached down and touched me, but
guess was so stiff with fright he
must have thought me dead. He
crossed the log to search for the
others.
stayed all night in the bushes.
Shells began to burst about me.
could do nothing but lie still and
bury my head to keep from being
hit by shrapnel.
In the morning, I raised my head
and saw other men peeking out of
the tall grass. I thought at first
that they were the enemy. I wait
ed a while until I noticed that they
were two of my buddies.
We decided to remain there
Later in the day, Japs came look
ing through the woods again. They
found some of the bodies of our
boys and went over them again
to make certain that they were
dead.
One of the Japs, apparently sus-
pecting that live marines might
still be around, fumbled with the
grass slyly so as not to attract
attention to his search.
Shot Brings Others.
whispered to my buddy nearby
that we had better get him before
he found us. I raised my rife, took
careful aim, squeezed the trigger
and shot him through the head.
Three Japs came running. The
Jap that had shot raised his arm
and motioned to his comrades
When I saw him signal, I told the
others that we had better make a
run for it.
We took off and it was not Ions
until we ran across six Japs. Al
sight of us, three of them ran fol-
safety and the others rushed Vi
with fixed bayonets.
One of them came at me anc
thrust his bayonet into my chest
but luckily I had turned to avoic
the blade. Although the point en-.
tered my chest, it did not 60 ir
very deep. A cut Of about three
inches resulted. I fell to the
ground and dropped my rifle for hi
had hit me with great force.
grabbed my rifle and shot him
through the body. I had no bayo.
net because in my haste I hae
thrown my pack away to make
running easier.
looked around and spotted ont
OF my buddies running, with two
Japs pursuing him. He had nj
rif1e-he must have lost it in tn,
skirmish. One of the Japs caugh
up with him and drove his bayone
through his back.
He fell to the ground and the jar
stood gloating over his victim.
shot him as he bent over my pal
The other Jap started to run, but .
shot him, too.
Finds Buddy Dead.
I ran to my buddy to see how h,
was. I found he was dead, and
ran farther on into the woods.
came on a clearing where saw
about a dozen Japs eating. I didn'
know what to do because 1 was *
tired. raised up to my full length
motioned with my right arm as i
to charge and shouted:
Come on boys! Let's get 'em!'
The Japs broke from their tabl,
and ran.
I ran into the surrounding bushe.
and kept up a steady fire to fore,
their heads down. I really filled thu
air with lead as covered my retreat
After running for a long while,
rested in the weeds, hoping thai
they would not find me, as I heare
their footsteps coming dangerously
close. stayed there all night, never
daring to move.
i awoke the next day when
heard rnachine-gun IRE. though
1t was ours because ! was well be.