Post by tits on Apr 13, 2005 20:10:50 GMT -8
As you know my uncle was 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division on Iwo. He died three years ago and one of my greatest honors is the close bond we developed the last five years of his life. I recently came across this and have so longed to have shared it with him to see what he knew. Del was I Company 2nd Platoon, 3 squad and went ashore on Red Beach. I wonder how similar Mr. Bolinger's story is to Uncle Del's.
users.totalspeed.net/tholmes/charley_bollinger.htm
Here is another site that I shared with Uncle Del. I found the video, "The Heroes of Iwo Jima" about the 27 Medals of Honors that were awarded and gave it him. He called one day and asked me to come down and visit (he lived three hours away). I did and he plugged in the video. He began to cry and got real agitated. Suddenly he said: "I was there!" and went into great detail of the battle for hill 362. I asked him if he knew the man the video was discussing, "Yes, John was our company corpsman." He then told my father and I of the battle and how he saw HM1 Willis throwing the Jap hand grenades back, one right after the other. He said that he turned and emptied his clip into the Bonzai when he felt the blast. He turned and saw the mangled body of John lying on his back with the stub of his right arm sticking straight up.
"MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS 1945-U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps"
"28 February 1945 - *WILLIS, JOHN HARLAN, Pharmacist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy" freespace.virgin.net/gordon.smith4/WW2USMoH1945.htm
Thanks for letting me share this. I am just in a mood where I really miss that ol'marine. In 1971 as I approached high school graduation, a group of my mother's family were over when Uncle Del ask what I was going to do after graduation. "Join the Marines and go to Vietnam". Del turn ashen and in a hushed firm voice said, "You don't want to do that." By Oct 29 of that year I was TDY to VMF314 in DaNang and I understood why.
I stand and salute all those men of the 5th and 4th Marines. 101 I salute you too. Thank you for earning the PH in that stupid political SNAFU. I hope that you have only a scar and are not maimed.
users.totalspeed.net/tholmes/charley_bollinger.htm
Here is another site that I shared with Uncle Del. I found the video, "The Heroes of Iwo Jima" about the 27 Medals of Honors that were awarded and gave it him. He called one day and asked me to come down and visit (he lived three hours away). I did and he plugged in the video. He began to cry and got real agitated. Suddenly he said: "I was there!" and went into great detail of the battle for hill 362. I asked him if he knew the man the video was discussing, "Yes, John was our company corpsman." He then told my father and I of the battle and how he saw HM1 Willis throwing the Jap hand grenades back, one right after the other. He said that he turned and emptied his clip into the Bonzai when he felt the blast. He turned and saw the mangled body of John lying on his back with the stub of his right arm sticking straight up.
"MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS 1945-U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps"
"28 February 1945 - *WILLIS, JOHN HARLAN, Pharmacist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy" freespace.virgin.net/gordon.smith4/WW2USMoH1945.htm
Thanks for letting me share this. I am just in a mood where I really miss that ol'marine. In 1971 as I approached high school graduation, a group of my mother's family were over when Uncle Del ask what I was going to do after graduation. "Join the Marines and go to Vietnam". Del turn ashen and in a hushed firm voice said, "You don't want to do that." By Oct 29 of that year I was TDY to VMF314 in DaNang and I understood why.
I stand and salute all those men of the 5th and 4th Marines. 101 I salute you too. Thank you for earning the PH in that stupid political SNAFU. I hope that you have only a scar and are not maimed.