Dirva = Field. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1915-current, 1944-06-30
SGT: CHESUNAS' GUN FIRED
HISTORIC SHOT AGAINST JAPS
By Pvt. James E. Hampton

! VI kiiN LII ~AtalSA AScAh ca
tillery offensive shell Of our pres
ent war is now in the Tooth Divi-
sion. He is John Chesunas, of A
Btry., 374 F. A. Bn., who at the
time was attached to the seth F.
A. Bn., of the 25th Division, sta
toned in the South Pacific.
The historic shot was fired two
days after Pearl Harbor from a
105-mm howitzer which was uder
the command of Sgt. Chesunas.
Strange as it may seem, the shot
was fired at Jap submarine which
was approaching the coastline of
Oahu Island, which the S9th had
fortified with it's 1865.
The battery opened fire directly
(without an observer) on the sub
and, according to Chesunas, pro-
ceeded to sink it. Since Sgt. Che
sunas was in command of the num-
Der two gun which is the base piece
he was accredited with the firing
of the first shot and, consequently,
he claims, he received credit for
the sinking.
Sometime later, Chesunas' outfit
was moved from Oahu Island, re-
placing the retiring Marines at
Guadalcanal. They were assigned
the job of driving the Japs from
the island. There, due to transpor-
tation difficulties, Chesunas found
his to be the only gun firing on
the front lines for the first four
days of the 25's participation, be-
ing about 100 yards from the enc
my.
During this lone stand, Chesunas
fired over a thousand rounds and
lost one of the II men in his Sec
tion. At one busy period during
the four days, the Sergeant claims
that his gun expended rounds at
the unbelievable speed of forty-one
rounds in three minutes. sixteen
in one.
After Chesunas was joined by
more artillery, system of harass-
ing fire was initiated, i.e., sys-
tenn whereby the enemy was con-
stantly under light fire, enough to
keep them on their toes, but not
enough to do considerable damage.
This was accomplished by keeping
q schedule similar to our guard
duty, a two-hour period of CONT
nual firing followed by sufficient
rest period. This harrassing fire
continued througout the island
Of the counter-artillery fire,
Chesunas had little to say, stating
that it was ineffective because of
the short range of the enemies
guns. Another reason for its in
he explained, was
that the boat carrying the Jap ar
had been sunk, necessi-
tating the substitution Of infantry
men as cannoneers. Not being very
with the artillery pieces,
the infantrymen were naturally not
very proficient.
Was he wounded? Yes, in the
side and leg by shrapnel from a
oomb. Upon recovering from his
wound he promptly contracted ma
aria fever and was taken to n hos
,ital in the New Hebrides. From
here he was sent to a New Gale
lonia hospital and then on to Auck-
and, New Zealand, after which he
vas returned to the United States.
Upon recovery he again applied
or overseas duty, taking reduc-
ion in rank from staff to buck Ser
cant. However, he again was sent
0 hospital and his outfit moved
ut without him, after which time
e was assigned to the Tooth Di-
ision.
Chesunas, who is of Lithuanian
rish ancestry, has spent 16 of his
8 wears in the Army. He halls
rom Oak Hill, w. Va, where four
ervice stars, one of which is gold
,r a brother lost in Sicily, can be
,und adorning the front window
r the Chesunas home.