The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-11-19

Scores OF special benefits are
available for war veterans,
widows, and other relatives.
Consult Bayard 5uehen, dIree-
tor Council OF Veterans Al.
fairs, American Legion Home,
III s Huron St., Ypsllantl.
Several times almost didn't
come home" wrote CM &c Ford
w. Patterson in a letter received
by his sister. Miss Joyce Patterson.
His service with the Sea Bees be-
gan in the Pacific over two years
ago. One painful experience came
when a Jap pill box exploded so
near that flying concrete struck
him, resulting in long hospltaliza-
ton and II days 81 unconscious
ness. This was on Peleliu Island.
Three Marines with him Mt the time
were killed and four others serl-
ously wounded.
Another time In tho Marshalls the
heel OF his shoe was shot off as he
was duckinR for cover.
One night for several nous Pat
terson and several buddies were
trapped in the hills Of an island.
completely surrounded by the enc
my They prayed for dawn, he said,
yet we're afraid to see Il because
that meant the Japs could sec them
10 start firing again. Luck was
with Patterson and his Marine bud
dies again. though They were res.
cued and taken behind the Amer.
lean lines.
Stationed on Peleliu Island, Pat
terson stated that they are in the
midst OF the hurricane season. For
days at a time no work can be done
by the occupation troops because
OF the heavy rainfall. The one ad-
vantage, he said. is that rain keeps
the island cool.
Before the end OF the war, one o.
the Jap held islands was within
sight all the time. with over $4,000
troops stationed on Il. Japs tried
three invasions OF the American
island and were repealed by wire
entanglements which Marines had
constructed under water on the
sandy beaches. The barbed wire
was three miles wide in places. On
ly one regiment OF American Mar
ines were on the island and a few
Sea-bees but no successful landings
were made by the Japs.
When the Americans invaded Pei.
eliu Island. there were $4,000 enemy
Marines on It. and II took 81 days
to wipe them out. The whole Amer
lean landing party would have been
annihilated had not word come that
the beach predetermine for the
landing was guarded by enemy
eight inch guns. Plans were
changed. another beach used and
the landing was successful.
Patterson has worked incessant-
ly with the Marines. first seeing
action in the Marshalls He later
was transferred to Peleliu, In sight
OF the Jap home islands.
The son OF Mr. mad Mrs. Gustaf
Patterson, % n. Huron St, he is
a former student OF the Ypsilanti
High School. He has been in the
service Cor over three years, and
stated in his letter that he expected
to be home soon.
CM &c Ernest Arthur, son OF
Mrs. Nellie Arthur, Saline. received
an honorable discharge from the
Navy at the Great Lakes Naval
Base. Nov. G. He was in the service
-3S months. He served in both the
Atlantic and the Pacific campaigns.
Kenneth Oliver Cots, 1850 Huron
River Drive. has been commits
stoned as a second lieutenant fol.
lowing his graduation from the
Field Artillery officer Candidate
School. Fort Sill. Okla.
Lieutenant Colts. son OF Mr. and
Mrs Claude r. Colts, 916 Huron
River Drive, has been assigned TO
the Field Artillery Replacement
Training Center. Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.
The following men received their
discharges Nov. 13 and IA Pfc
Lawrence f. Jackson. 327 Chidls-
ter St. Sgt. LOREN f. Emerson.
33i Oak ST.. Ti5 Clifton F. Ander-
son, 213 Ferris St. and Ti5 Louie
L. Pogue. 427 s. Adams st.
Ems. Louis d. Harmon. 922 Haw-
thorne St. and Bernard p. Richards
RDM &c. 220 n. Grove St. received
their discharge Nov. 13 from the
Great Lakes Separation Center.
Cpl. Robert c. Bunton. son OF Mr..
and Mrs. Clyde Bunton. Willis. was