Ringside Seats To A Mass Hari-Kari
Letter from Robert W. Swanson
To Mrs. Ada Swanson, July 1944
Robert Warran “Bob” Swanson was twenty years old when he joined the First Battalion for duty with Baker Company.
As a “visual signalman,” Swanson was called upon to send messages by semaphore, place panels for air support, fire flares, and other means of visual communication. He was also expected to know how to operate a radio set – which made one a conspicuous target, as Swanson discovered when a sniper shot the antenna off his “walky talky.” (Although he omitted this detail in his first post-battle letter, it appeared in a later edition of the Paxton Record.) A million-dollar wound got Corporal Swanson off of Iwo Jima and out of combat for the rest of World War II – but he went on to reenlist in 1950 and served another 21 years, through the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and retiring as a master sergeant.
This letter appeared in the Paxton Record on 27 July 1944, with the following introduction:
Came Through Saipan Offensive
Mrs. Ada Swanson, 120 West Pells St. was happy today to receive a letter from her son PFC Robert (Bob) Swanson, U.S. Marines, informing her that he had come through the Saipan offensive alive and without as much as a scratch. His letter, well written, tells the story which will no doubt be of much interest to his countless number of friends in Paxton.
Saipan, July 15
Dear Mother,
Just a short line to let you know I am well and safe. The battle here on Saipan was secured July 9 officially but yesterday we had ringside seats to a mass hari-kari by some 200 Japs. They did this with hand grenades and by drowning themselves. We landed here on D-Day June 15th. This is our 27th day on the island. We have eaten K and C rations without a hot meal as yet. I just received a letter from you dated July 2nd. Awfully glad to hear from you. I also got myself a couple of Japs so I feel good about that. I thought my time was up several times but I came out alright. Those Japs tried every trick in the book and some that weren’t. We were subject to bombing raids also and artillery fire. I’ll tell you all about it later on. Tell Norma, Marilyn, and Arlene hello. Still bringing in native prisoners, don’t take many Jap soldiers alive. Happy Birthday.
Love, your son Bob