On The Record:
Official Photographs of the First Battalion, 24th Marines
While some of the most famous names in photojournalism covered the war for newspapers and magazines, dozens of camera-carrying Marines were assigned to combat units as official photographers. Usually tasked with shooting subjects of intelligence or public relations value, they also created an important historical record of the Pacific War. Press professionals often opted for artistic or dramatic portrayals designed to impress an audience at home, but enlisted photographers took a more straightforward, even prosaic approach to their work. Their technical skills and artistic eyes vary, but almost all of their photographs convey a feeling of reality. If LIFE Magazine served up the most iconic images, service cameramen portrayed the mundane moments that made up the war.
The images on this page show members of 1/24th Marines in camp and the field, portrayed by about a dozen photographers. All photos are part of Record Group 127 at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) College Park, Maryland. Identifications are taken from original captions or picture clues (e.g., visible UNIS markings).
Editor’s Note:
In some instances when there is reason to believe a photo shows a particular company or group, facial recognition software (Rekognition) has been used to pick out individual Marines. Such programs are helpful but not infallible, so those identifications should be taken with caution.
"24th Marines, Heavy Machine Gun. Camp Pendleton, California, 1 November 1943"
Photographer uncredited.
Dog Company training with the .50-caliber Browning M2. The company fielded a section of these massive weapons for a short time, carrying them into action at Roi-Namur. Six guns are visible here, suggesting an allocation of two “fifties” for each MG platoon. The big Brownings proved too heavy and cumbersome for routine infantry use, and the section appears to have disbanded in early 1944.
John C. Pope’s photographs show his company using these weapons at Pendleton, providing a reference point for individual IDs.
In 405986, PFC Charles Podolski has his back to the camera, walking along the firing line.
In 405976, Podolski (far right) has walked down to the next gun in line and appears to be talking to PFC Melvin L. Pinkerton. A Marine believed to be PFC Carmen A. Ramputi fiddles with the ammo box.
In 405983, Podolski is behind the gun with PFC John Poggioli at left using the M2’s telescopic sight.
Claude Henderson, Leo Ksiekievicz, Bill Imm, Wilbur Plitt, Edward Hackett
Jowers, Hurley, Smith, Hall, Kerr