World War II Photos:
Louis Olin Pendleton
Georgia-born Louis Olin Pendleton was twenty-one years old when he heard about the “Cracker Platoon” – a Marine Corps training unit being raised exclusively in the Atlanta area. He enlisted with sixty other young men, and was soon on his way to Parris Island. Several of the “Crackers” would go on to serve together in the heavy weapons company of First Battalion, 24th Marines.
Pendleton fought on Roi-Namur with Dog Company, and on Saipan and Tinian as a member of Able Company. He was severely wounded in the arm during the Mariana campaigns, and sent back to the United States to recover. After the war, he returned to Georgia to live out his days. Pendleton passed away in1977.
The photographs shown here are from the personal collection of Keith McCauley, and are posted by permission.
- Served With: Dog Company, Able Company
- Collection Timeline: 1942 – 1944
- Locations: Parris Island, New River, Camp Pendleton
Cracker: Parris Island & New River
The “Cracker Platoon” (more formally called Recruit Platoon 685) was raised from Atlanta youths in August 1942. They were sworn in together in a public ceremony and went through Parris Island as a group. Many of them – including Louis Pendleton, John Pope, James Pritchett, William Pettyjohn, Thomas Roberts, James Rainey, and Wallace Duncan – went on to serve with D/1/24th Marines.
The Cracker Platoon is being organized specially for Atlanta men between the ages of 17 and 33 so they can all be together while they are in boot camp and through combat training. The name will carry on – even though after training, some of the men may wish to be transferred to other branches of the Marines.
Social entertainment will be fixed up for the Atlantans in the Cracker Platoon – and there will be music and pretty girls with whom to dance. It'll be a party!
