World War II Photos:
Richards Parker Lyon

We were told not to take cameras into combat. I understood this rule for, although my camera was my log, I had no desire either to have a camera’s eye recording the trauma I would see, or think about anything that would take my mind off my job, if just for an instant. But it did occur to me that as we completed our mission, there might be a time when photos of our men might be worthwhile. Therefore, I placed my prized Contax camera in the safest place I could think of – Major Parks' desk – hoping it might come ashore at a quiet time.

On [Iwo Jima] D+20 or so it was in direct view, 25 yards from the beach, when a mortar shell made a direct hit. I can still see the craft and its contents bubbling slowly as it descended to the bottom. I have to smile, though, for all that was lost could be replaced, and the boat master swam safely to shore.

I recalled the original Eastman box camera with its single exposure shutter and no lens. Why not make a similar “pinhole” camera? I scrounged a roll of film, probably from a Marine cameraman, located a small box; made my pinhole, and took a dozen shots. This camera and its photos would today be in a museum, but that was not to be. Again I tried to find the safest place for my treasure. It ended up in the medical stores on my jeep. I still had a lot to learn. My jeep was empty when we recovered it on Maui. My Marine buddies had a good laugh. Didn’t I know that anytime there were goodies not locked up securely, especially coming home from combat, the “swabbies” would steal us blind? And then sell even our C-ration utensils to starry-eyed recruits as captured Japanese souvenirs!​