Evening star., 1943-11-07
Marine Corps Anniversary Wednesday to Sigma
Ceremonies BETTING VoIour in Pacific
$4,000 Men Learn
SpeciuIties But All
Know How to Fiqht

Pacific by invading the enemy-con-
trolled Solomon Islands in August,
1912, the United States Marine
Corps will celebrate its 168th ami
versary Wednesday. Appropriate,
Ceremonies will be held at all Ma
rine Corps bases.
With every member Of it's person.
mel Marine first, regardless of
training, and a specialist second,
the corps has a fighting force of
more than $4,000 Whether serving
as gunners aboard a battIeship or
shock troops taking a beachhead at
Guadalcanal, the Leathernecks have
proved themselves one of the
"roughest and toughest combat
groups" in the war.
Not specializing in one type of
combat action, the organization has
gained added glory to the long his
toric record of achievement with the
daring feats performed in the pres
ent conflict by it's aviators, artil-
lerymen, Raiders, sea-going Ma
rlneS and ParanlarneS.
Wake Stand Thrilled Z. S.
1t was marine pilot who sank
the first Jap warship in this war
during the defense of Wake Island.
1t was the first time a fighter plane
had sunk a large warship During
the tWo-week siege of the tiny
island garrison by force of less
than 400 men, never were there
more than four planes in the air
at one time. Yet these small units
many times sailed into formations of
from 20 to 40 japanese planes.
When overwhelming japanese
forces finally stormed the beaches
and the marine defenders radioed
their last official report: The issue
is in doubt" the conquest had cost
the Japanese seven warShipS, six
Zeros shot down and many dam
aged. three submarines, unknown
casualties among the enemy landing
forces and great quantities of sup
plies.
Again in the Battle of Midway.
the greatest air and naval battle in
the Pacific in 1912. marine aviatorS
scored against the Nipponese, Sc
verely damaging several aircraft
carriers and other enemy warships
1t was in this battle that Maj
Lotion R. Henderson, for whom
Henderson Field at Guadalcanal
was named, hurled his blazing
bomb-laden plane straight at the
smokestack of an aircraft carrier,
and Capt. Daniel Iverson returned
to his base with 214 holes in his
plane.
Pioneered With Seaplanes.
The Marine Corps ranks high In
the field of achievement and ex-
perimental progress in aviation. 1t
was marine flyer, 1t. Col A. A
Cunningham. who plloted the first
plane to be catapulted from a war
ship.
In 1917. when the seaplane was
considered to be of little use and
scheduled to be discarded. again il
was marine pilot who took the
plane in its first loop and brought
it out Of an intentional spin, featS
thought to be impossible with a sea-
plane. Following World War I. the
Marine Corps developed a method
of dive bombing which proved to be
the forerunner of today's devastat-
ing bombing methods.
The Leatherneck artillerymen also
have brought glory TO the accom-
r1jc nF tho
the most fitting tribute to the deadly
accuracy Of the artillery came dur
ing the Solomons campaign when
captured Japanese officer, fearing
he was to be judged on the spot,
pleaded: Before you kill me I have
one request to make. Please let me
see your automatic artillery"
During one of the most fierce en-
gagementS Of the Solomons cam
paign-the Battle of Tenaru River
three artillery units held off 5000
japanese in landing force When
the battle was over, 1000 of the
enemy lay dead on the beach and
the marines had held their line.
The scene Of the battle was later
kllO"l IL dS FeQ btdCn.
Raiders Carried Tulasi.
Swiftness, surprise and confidence
constitute the weapons of the Marine
Raiders. group of high-specialized
handpicked volunteers. who made
the first spearhead attack on Tulagi
in the Solomons.
One unit landed from two sub
marines on Maxim Island and, capi-
talizing on their strongest weapon,
surprise, annihilated the Japanese
garrisons there of 300 men, destroyed
three radio stations, two naval craft,
two seaplanes and large quantities
of supplies They were in continu-
Gus action for St days.
Another unit, after landing at
Guadalcanal, disappeared into the
jungleS and mountains to harasS the
enemy from the rear, ambush
patrols, disrupt enemy communica-
tions and destroy ammunition and
equipment. After one month. living
off of captured Japanese rice. they
had cleared all enemy forces from
the area, losing only 16 of their
group.
Defied Bullets to Find Foe.
A wounded Navy enlisted man who
was being evacuated from Guadal-
canal, declared, About the greatest
thing I've seen were Marine Raiders
stepping out into the open and
allowing themselves to be shot at,
so they could locate Jap snipers."
1t. Col Evans F. Carlson, who led
the attack on Maxim Island, at
tributed the efficiency and the dar-
ing of the expedition to one fact:
My men know why they are fight
ing"
The heroism displayed by the sea
going marine gunners, who man
secondary and antiaircraft batteries
on warships, typities the marine ira
dition for gallantry.
Aboard the Inflated U. S. S. Lex
ington during the Coral Sea battle
marine fuse setter was mortally
wounded but remained at his sta
tion until he collapsed.
Then, there is the story of the
marine private aboard the U. S. S
CHICAGO who deSpite bic ceyere