World War II Photos:
George Davis Webster
When Captain George Webster reported for duty as the executive officer of Company D, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) in 1943, he had nearly eighteen months experience as a leader of Marines, most of it earned in the Canal Zone. He was well suited to the task; within eight months, he was advanced to the role of company commander. This versatile officer held a wide variety of posts within the battalion – when his original company was disbanded, Webster took over the headquarters unit, then assumed a second role as battalion intelligence officer literally on the eve of the invasion of Saipan. In the Marianas, he earned his first Bronze Star, his Purple Heart, and his promotion to major. Webster took command of the regimental weapons company for Iwo Jima, until a mid-battle command shakeup in his old 1/24 caused him to take over as the battalion’s XO. By the end of the war, Webster was the permanent XO of 3/24, and added a second Bronze Star to his list of achievements.
World War II was just the beginning of Webster’s career. During the Korean War, he served at various stateside posts, did a first tour in Vietnam as a U.S. Military Assistance Command intelligence officer, and returned in 1968 as assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division. During this second tour, he also led Task Force X-Ray. Finally, he commanded MCB Quantico before his retirement as a brigadier general in 1971.
All photos kindly provided by the General’s son, George Webster.
- Served With: Company D, First Battalion HQ, Weapons Company, Third Battalion HQ
- Collection Timeline: 1943 - 1945
- Locations: Camp Pendleton, Saipan, Camp Maui, Iwo Jima
Webster earned his commission with the fifth Reserve Officers Class at MCB Quantico in 1941. Although his colleagues were sent to duty stations across the Corps, several wound up serving with the 24th Marines for at least part of the war. Many of Webster’s photos depict these “reunions” on Pacific battlefields. (All photos from the 1941 “Gold Bar.”)
Officers of D/1/24th Marines after Roi-Namur, February 1944
5th ROC classmates after Roi-Namur
Rear: Webster; Irving Schechter; Horace C. Parks; George K. Dunn
Front: Milton G. Cokin, Kenneth N. Hilton, William P. McCahill, Robert R. Deguglielmo
An extremely unusual picture from Iwo Jima
“Oscar – the Jap – he was a cook for the aviators on Iwo. Majors Schecter, Cokin * I captured the Jap when we were out on reconnaissance one day.”
One of Webster’s many roles in the First Battalion was a stint as the “Bn-2” – intelligence officer. His ROC classmate Arthur Hanson (wearing cap) filled a similar role at regimental headquarters, and was chief of R-2 on Iwo Jima. The interpreter is a “Lieutenant Johnson” – organization unknown – and the other American is an unidentified member of Hanson’s group.
“Oscar” seems pleased with his change of fortune – and may not realize the extent of his good fortune. Only four POWs were captured by the 24th Marines during the entire Iwo Jima operation: according to the regiment’s report, “three were Army personnel; one was a cook from a Naval Aviation unit.” All were captured late in the battle, and the information they could offer was limited at best.
Unfortuantely, “Oscar’s” real name is not known.