Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-23

w HIsIIlNS Sej
t of the bloody conquest of TaraWa Y
riHeA corps combat correspondent 10
Japanese merchantmen doomed 10 the right
Two direct hits from our destroyers had put 1t
out of action on the lookout for snipers, we
covered it with Our maehneguns.
When we reached the dock. snipers in the
wrecked ship opened up, but they were firing
over our heads We climbed on the dock and
more snipers fired We hit the deck. We
moved down the dock 10@feet Japs on the
beach began throwing mortars our way. We
hit the deck again.
Minutes later second mortar hit directly
beneath us. | felt the blast and was sprayed
with saltwater
Some one yelled
Get To the other side The next one viii
be right on"
We were uncertain where to GO The Jap
lines were only 30 yards past the end of the
pier. and there was no command post.
Mat TASTE and discarded ott- typewriter, our
packs and our field glasses and started to the
shore.
The last - yards Of the pier was white
coral grit There was a brilliant Moon at
home would have called it beautiful We
swore at il Yiciousy We were perfect targets.
-CreHehed. -sprnted down the pier.
slhouettcd against the coral. Shippers opened
up and six men fell, screaming in agony. We
lay like logs
we can't STAY here" some one said mp
the line. "they II shell hell out of Us and well
all be gone"
advance slowly Five feet between each
man. They won't get us all that way
Ltte-st@4rtea- Three more marines fell, and
we hit the ground. Inch by inch We moved
up Each 10 yards cost us the lives of more
marines. Each time | expected to get mine
FINALLY we were within Is yards Of the
Il beach: Ahead were shadows.
Throw away everything. including Your
camera" | told Matjasc. We'll come back
and get il. if we can. We're making run
for it.
A sergeant beside me cracked:
Take your rifle. Nou'll probably never
get Ia use il. but YOU might.
| grlnned Ray and ran for the shadows
II was an antl,cllmaX. Not shot was fred
at US
On The beach the fire was still hot. We
ducked behiiid the Wreckake of a Japanese
steam roller which appeared 10 be between us
and the enemyA I-found a4shopcl and began
franucallv 10 dix Within five 4fi4tttes,-',.e
had our FIRST foxhple ON TaraWa. it turned
out to be the safesNSpot on the island
There we spent me night Il Mas 1 a N
when we got to lie down
At dawn We found our position precarous.
Our men were on the Left of us, the Japs not
more than 80 yards on the right. We We're IN
nO-man'S land.
At s a. M, a fight began over our foXholc
Scores OF bullets nickedoft the big steam roller
while We burrowed deeper
Shorttr before noon the-J laps were driven
back and we came out of hiding.
nd az bcf
sholhns Of the Jap half Of the island knocking
out the last remaining biz guns The concus-
sion was terrific, for the shells were landing
not more than zee Eards-aN-aI-.- Our planes
came in strafng At least $50 planes made A..
least - sorties over the area during the day
waded and swan through\a. small bay
10 reach the opposite shore, but was unable to
hndany one Virtually every one | knew was
reported dead or missing.
EAR down the beach Cnot more than % Yards
L but 1t took me two hours to cover''iD/ +
saw a marine with camera Painfully /
crawled to- him, for my body was one mass
Of bruises
He was a stranger
"Where'd YOU Get il >" ! asked
From Lucas" he replied.
where is Lucas" asked
"0Ner there" he replied. Dead"
I'm Lucas l told him.,
From his description, ! decided he meant
Sgt. Ernest j. Diet. So of Hammond La
Later / found a body thought was that Of
our sergc8nt- photographer almost
hystercal when Diet showed up "a hours later
He learned finally that it was some one elso's
camera, and that he had found some Of my
Papers. But, meanwhile, ne had officially re-
pOrtc1 me Killed in action
Il left my foXhole at noon, went 100 Yards
and returned al 6-p. m. it was that tough.