Everett Schafer's Letters
Letter #6
We Have Them Beat Any Way They Want It
To “Mom & All”
6 February 1944
Sunday 6 Feb. 1944[1]
Dear Mother + all
Here I am on the isle of Namur in the Marshall Islands.[2] I’m as safe as a bug in a rug, and in good health. We have been here since the first day we invaded the islands. Mother it was really something. It is more than I can ever put in words, but there was never a moment when I didn’t have all the confidence in the world in our outfit. We had a time for awhile but came through with what was expected of us. Tojo’s Imperial Marines, or his Jap fighters aren’t near what people think they are.[3] We have them beat any way they want it. At the rate things are going this war won’t last very much longer. Write LaFerhn + Roma right away so they won’t be worried. Tell all the family hello for me. I intend to write Delwin as soon as I can, but you might let him know I’m all right. I write more as soon as I get back to our advanced base. Write me soon.
Your loving son
Everett
Below are three documents from Everett Schafer’s experience in the Marshall Islands, courtesy of Gary Schafer.
The message from regimental commander Colonel Franklin A. Hart was distributed to all hands before the invasion.
The photograph depicts “Navy Sonoyama Force Officers and Associate Officers, 3 November 1943” (海軍園山部隊准士官以上昭和18年11月3日)
The Sonoyama Force was the 752nd Air Group (named for the commanding officer, Captain Sonoyama Hitoshi), which flew twin-engined bombers from the airfield on Roi.
The “24th Word” was a short-lived regimental newsletter. This edition was printed and distributed on February 15, 1944, while the battalion was shipping to Maui.
Footnotes
1. The envelope for this V-Mail is addressed to “F2c Delwin V. Schafer, Group 24 Navy 1504, Submarine Base, Fleet Post Office San Francisco.” Navy 1504 was code for Midway Island.
2. Everett has just been through his baptism of fire – Operation Flintlock, the invasion of Roi-Namur. His company was engaged in combat on February 1-2, and took part in mopping up and occupation duty through February 11.
3. Baker Company suffered nearly 20% casualties during the battle for Namur – by far the highest rate in the First Battalion. Most were taken during a banzai charge that hit a platoon-sized salient shortly before dawn on February 2. In later life, Everett was reluctant to talk about his wartime experiences, but shared one story with his family, as reported by nephew Gary Schafer. “He mentioned being attacked by the Japanese in a banzai charge, and his machine gun squad mowed down so many Japanese soldiers that Everett had to send out men from his squad to clear the field of fire.” The Schafer family believes this event happened on Namur.