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BATTLE NARRATIVE

Rest & Replacements Tinian: 26-28 July 1944

PFC Peter Kakadelis (C/1/24) poses on a wrecked Japanese bomber at Tinian, July 26, 1944. USMC photo.

The American advance kept pressing southward. The Second Marine Division came ashore and took over the drive down the eastern half of the island. Another airfield fell into Marine hands. A few stubborn defenders caused trouble and casualties, but were little more than speed bumps for the two divisions sweeping ahead with a unified front. “The remaining troops were capable of only the most dazed and weak resistance,” wrote David Dempsey in the Fourth Marine Division’s official history. “Three airfields, a dozen prepared strongpoints… fell with no more than token resistance.”[1]

For two days after turning back the banzai attack, BLT 1-24 stayed in a reserve assembly area near the airfield. As always, they were expected to mop up in the area – but this time, had the support of LVTAs, tanks, demolition men, and flamethrowers. The Marines methodically worked through heavy undergrowth and a handful of caves; they found some weapons and papers of interest to intelligence but encountered almost no enemy soldiers. “It soon became apparent that the enemy had almost completely evacuated the beach-head area,” noted the regimental report. By mid-afternoon, all hands returned to their positions to rest and reorganize.[2] A few went sightseeing around the airfield, climbing on the wrecked planes and posing for photographers. One or two Marines were treated for superficial shrapnel scratches, but by and large July 26 and 27 were uneventful for LtCo. Otto Lessing’s Marines. Nobody complained.

Marine patrols mop up the airfields, cane fields, and clifflines of Tinian. USMC photos.

One notable event was the arrival of another draft of replacements “loaned” from the Second Marine Division. Nine officers and 266 enlisted men were received by RCT-24; seventy-seven, including two of the officers, were allocated to the First Battalion. Able Company added one officer and 42 enlisted to its ranks, bringing its total ratio of replacements to 45% of its total strength (64 out of 143). Baker and Charlie Companies also received new men, though not so many since those outfits were spared most of the chaos and casualties of the banzai. Other companies of the 24th were in even worse shape. “The RCT had 2 rifle companies with over 60% of the men replacements, and 1 company [probably Able] had about 50% replacements,” they reported. With companies already understrength, having a majority of untested troops “reduced the effectiveness of these companies tremendously.”[3]

Private Roland K. Jennings was one of several “transplanted cannoneers schooled in the art of field artillery, suddenly becoming infantrymen” in Able Company. He was paired up with PFC Armand Louis Guyot, a nineteen-year-old combat veteran. Jennings, a Missouri farm boy, wasn’t sure what to make of Guyot, an aspiring actor and dancer from Chicago. “We quickly became close friends even though our backgrounds were completely opposite,” he wrote. “He was my mentor to learn the way of war.”[4] Eighteen-year-old Private Alva “Gene” Gordon had been in uniform for just seven months. “I’d taken training as an 81mm mortarman,” he remembered. “I was a rifleman on Tinian.” He summed up the experience of many a young man going directly into battle: “You’re scared, that’s for sure, and if you weren’t scared you didn’t have very good brains. You just take it in stride, something we all had to do. You didn’t know from one minute to the next if you was going to be there or not – alive, anyway.”[5] Jennings, Gordon, and their colleagues were posted to their temporary companies on the evening of July 26 but not taken up on the rolls until two days later.

Temporarily Attached from Casual Battalion, Second Marine Division
NameMOSRankAssigned To
ENACO, Philip Frank521 (Basic)PFCAble
GORDON, Alva Eugene607 (Mortarman)PrivateAble
GRIFFAW, Joseph LeRoy607 (Mortarman)PrivateAble
HALE, Ted Robert, Jr.607 (Mortarman)PrivateAble
HEATH, LeRoy John607 (Mortarman)PrivateAble
JENKINS, Jim531 (Artilleryman)PrivateAble
JENNINGS, Roland Kenneth531 (Artilleryman)PrivateAble
JOHNSON, Raymond P.531 (Artilleryman)PrivateAble
KARR, Lawrence Jerald531 (Artilleryman)PrivateAble
MILLER, LeRoy Evan Jr653 (Squad Leader)CorporalAble
MUELLER, Galen Emery746 (BARman)PrivateAble
NEASLONEY, Milfred Otto746 (BARman)PrivateAble
NEELY, James Louis746 (BARman)PrivateAble
NICHOLSON, Paul Laverne746 (BARman)PrivateAble
NOLEN, Lawrence Albert746 (BARman)PrivateAble
NOWACK, George Joseph Edward745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
O'CONNELL, Timothy P.745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
OSBURN, Lawrence Roger745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PANTALEO, Louis Primo1542 (Platoon Leader)Seond LieutenantAble
PANZA, Ernest Peter745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PAYNE, Harvey Lee745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PEARSON, William Howard653 (Squad Leader)PrivateAble
PETERS, Francis Nicholas745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PETERSON, JAMES Nels745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PICKETT, LeRoy Wrinney745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PIEDE, Werner Philip636 (Scout)PFCAble
PLATT, Thomas L.745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PRATT, Frank Edward745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PRATT, Olva Jackson745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PREITE, Fredric Dominic Jr761 (Sniper)PFCAble
PREVOT, Henry John William745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PRINTZ, Peter Andrew Jr.745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
PROCKO, Steve745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
RADISH, Richard Louis745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
RAISNER, Richard Leonard636 (Scout)PFCAble
REAMS, Richard Hugh745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
REESE, Kay745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
SHERWOOD, Durward Lamoine604 (Machine Gunner)PrivateAble
SLAVIK, James Louis604 (Machine Gunner)PrivateAble
SMITH, Robert R.604 (Machine Gunner)PrivateAble
TANNER, Earle David604 (Machine Gunner)PrivateAble
WEAVER, Wilford Peter745 (Rifleman)PrivateAble
WITTWER, WIlliam Ernest652 (Section Leader)SergeantAble
DAVID, LeRoy Herman607 (Mortarman)PrivateBaker
DOGGETT, Sherman Avner607 (Mortarman)PrivateBaker
GALVEZ, Louis Wilfredo607 (Mortarman)PrivateBaker
GILBERT, Robert J.607 (Mortarman)PrivateBaker
HOPKINS, William P.607 (Mortarman)PrivateBaker
KENNEDY, Troy William531 (Artilleryman)PrivateBaker
KIRBY, Cortes Hinson521 (Basic)PrivateBaker
KUPCZAK, Daniel Richard531 (Artilleryman)PrivateBaker
LARSEN, Morris Marx531 (Artilleryman)PrivateBaker
NICHOLS, Frederick Day, Jr.1542 (Platoon Leader)Second LieutenantBaker
REYNOLDS, Paul Ray745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
RILEY, Philip John636 (Scout)PFCBaker
SHARP, Wayne Eugene521 (Basic)PrivateBaker
SHEPPARD, Frank Miller, Jr521 (Basic)PrivateBaker
STEWART, Edward George745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
STONE, Calvin Wheeler745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
SUNDERLAND, Charles Chester Jr745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
SZALAY, Alex Francis745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
SZTABA, Walter Martin745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
TABER, Richard Joseph604 (Machine Gunner)PrivateBaker
TAYLOR, Edward A.745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
TAYLOR, Howard William745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
TAYLOR, Mark Ellis745 (Rifleman)PrivateBaker
ROBINSON, Everett Sherwood636 (Scout)PFCCharlie
TERRY, Edward Boyd745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
THOMPSON, William Earl745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
TODD, James E.745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
ULSHAFER, Garth Eugene745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
VANNOY, Orval William745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
VIZCAINO, Joseph Michael745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
WAKEHAM, Kenneth745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
WALLNER, Edward745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
WALTER, Paul E.745 (Rifleman)PrivateCharlie
VAN DOREN, Charley Vance776 (Radio Operator)PFCHeadquarters
Marines push southward on Tinian as spotter planes fly overhead, July 28 1944. USMC photo.

July 28 was the baptism of fire for these new men, and they got a crash course in tank-infantry tactics. In the morning, BLT 1-24 moved to a new assembly area and took up positions to lead a section of the day’s advance towards Tinian Town. Led by a platoon from the 4th Tank Battalion, RCT-24 notched an astonishing seven- thousand-yard gain in a single day, capturing “a huge new airport in west-central Tinian” and ending the day within sight of Tinian Town. “We got into what they called ‘echelon,’ a line of men across the island,” explained Gordon. “Sometimes you walked close [together] because you had to, and sometimes far apart so you can see better. In jungle or tall cane fields, you had to walk a little bit closer or you’d stroll right past the Japanese. You didn’t want to bypass any of them because they’d shoot you in the back.”[6] Japanese troops who did stay and fight – especially those of the 50th Infantry – often performed quite well. “The discipline and training of the Manchurian veterans was evident,” noted the Division’s intelligence report. “They made excellent use of cover and concealment… their marksmanship was notably accurate, with rifle and MG fire delivered low.”[7] Americans underestimated these men at their peril.

The battalion took three casualties in this “echelon” movement. Private Richard J. Taber, one of the brand-new replacements in Baker Company, was hit in the shoulder but the wound was slight and he stayed on the line. PFC Bartholomew R. J. Wanagaitis, a veteran Able Company mortarman called “Taxi” for his resemblance to William Bendix’s character in Guadalcanal Diary, was more seriously hurt; he was admitted to the field hospital with bullet wound in his right hip. The closest call of all nearly killed the operations officer, Captain Gene G. Mundy, who had been a tremendous help in leading the battalion on Saipan. A piece of shrapnel slammed into his chest right below the collarbone, smashing his ribs and damaging his lung. The wound looked frightful, and Mundy was given up for dead – but managed to live through the night, much to the surprise of the corpsmen who rushed him back to the beach for evacuation. Mundy would be hospitalized for the next two years; he lost nine ribs and his left lung, but retired from the service as a major with the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts to complement his campaign ribbons.

"The line moves forward all together." Infantry and tanks enter yet another Tinian cane field. USMC photo.

The day’s movement brought BLT 1-24 to the extreme right of the American line, following Tinian’s western coast. Directly ahead lay the ruins of Tinian Town, flattened and smouldering after days of massive bombardment from land, sea, and air. If everything went according to plan, they would be the first to “liberate” what was left on D-plus-5.

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Footnotes
  1. Proehl, 105.
  2. Division Report (Tinian), 276.
  3. Ibid., 308.
  4. Roland K. Jennings, letter to the author.
  5. Alva E. Gordon, interview by Tony P. Lupo, May 3 2006. Alva Eugene Gordon  Collection (AFC/2001/001/46242), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  6. Ibid.
  7. Division Report (Tinian), 68.

Battalion Report

Casualties, Evacuations, Joinings & Transfers
0

KIA/DOW

0

WIA & EVAC*

0

SICK

0

JOINED

0

TRANSFERRED

0

STRENGTH

Out of an original landing strength of 599 officers and men.
* Does not include minor wounds not requiring evacuation from the line.
NameCompanyRankRoleChangeCauseDateDispositionProfile
Baker, William LeroyHeadquartersPhM2cCorpsmanSickUnknown7/28/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Boxx, Ottis OliverCharliePFCMachine GunnerReturned to duty7/28/1944Visit
Boyd, Kenneth NewmanBakerPFCRiflemanWounded In ActionUnknown (slight)7/27/1944Not evacuatedVisit
Cavanaugh, William F.BakerPrivateBARmanSickUnknown7/26/1944Evacuated, destination unknown
Chamberlain, Claude LeeBakerPFCAmmo CarrierReturned to duty7/26/1944Visit
Fry, Don HaroldBakerPrivateRiflemanSickUnknown7/27/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Gabor, CharlesBakerPFCBARmanSickUnknown7/27/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Gibson, John AndrewCharlieChief CookCookSickUnknown7/27/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Grosch, Richard TheodoreAbleCorporalMachine GunnerReturned to duty7/27/1944Visit
Ison, Venon HarrisonBakerPFCBasicWounded In ActionUnknown (slight)7/27/1944Not evacuatedVisit
Mayhew, Ray CarrellBakerFM1cField MusicSickUnknown7/27/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Mayhew, Ray CarrellBakerFM1cField MusicReturned to duty7/28/1944Visit
Mundy, Gene GordonHeadquartersCaptainBn-3Wounded In ActionShrapnel, chest7/28/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Remington, Jess BennettHeadquartersPFCMortarmanSickUnknown7/26/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Shurmantine, Donald HoltHeadquartersPFCRiflemanWounded In ActionShrapnel, left side of face7/27/1944Not evacuatedVisit
Swoyer, Joseph DellBakerFirst LieutenantMG Platoon LeaderReturned to duty7/28/1944Visit
Taber, Richard JosephBakerPrivateMachine GunnerWounded In ActionUnknown (slight)7/28/1944Not evacuated
Telech, Samuel JohnCharliePFCBasicSickUnknown7/26/1944Evacuated, destination unknownVisit
Triggs, Stephen JohnHeadquartersSergeantField Wire ChiefReturned to duty7/27/1944Visit
Wanagaitis, Bartholomew Robert JohnAblePFCMortarmanWounded In ActionGunshot, right hip7/28/1944Evacuated to field hospitalVisit
Wilmer, Ralph ClementBakerPFCRiflemanSickUnknown7/27/1944Evacuated, destination unknown

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