Minor Happenings on Guam

When we first landed we encountered a lot of rain one day. When you moved on this slick mud it was very hard to keep your feet, but we learned to take shorter steps. One day we came upon a familiar scene; Keith, always looking for a fight, had found another one; on the way to Oceanside from Farragut he was playing cards with this guy; they argued; Keith slapped him, and the shorter guy slapped him back! Well, now here they are on Guam, in the mud and Keith wanted someone to get the other guy off him because he wanted to box; no one offered anything to either contestant and there they were; Keith pinned in the mud and the shorter guy took some mud and smeared his face! I left with some friends. At the end of our stay on Guam we heard Keith had hit an officer and was in the brig! No surprise there. At Barrigada a Seabee showed up with his bulldozer and knocked down coconut trees, and we would run along throwing big clogs of dirt, etc. to kill the rats. About every eight days we rotated and that day was free; we could do anything, wash clothes; take a shower (we jerry-rigged a bucket of water over our heads so we could get water and the shower was set up between the tents). Also, I should mention that the urinal consisted of a 3-4" diameter pipe buried in the ground, at an angle so the opening was about 26-30 inches above ground, which we all used. We always noticed that a daughter of the Chamorros living in the hut above us was always washing clothes about 40 feet from us and when using the urinal we were looking right at her working. We ignored her mostly, as she probably did us.

My Buddy Fred

The next day we were just starting to work when a squad of Marines showed up; stopped briefly and then marched out of our area into the jungle. It was time to clear the Barrigada area-again!
The Japanese who were loose in the jungle of Guam just seemed to gravitate to this area. I saw Fred Midcap, my buddy from Boulder and he was sad looking - his brother Don, about sixteen had been returning to the farm at night, with a buddy, and failed to see the train that was already going across the road; their car hit the train; and miraculously everyone seemed to survive, but Don died the next day, very suddenly. It was a shock. I had traveled that road before and you could actually see car lights coming towards you, under the train because the road was elevated. I asked Fred what was going on with all the Japanese in Barrigada and he said that when the Marines landed they swept through so rapidly the Japanese never seemed to get set to create a defense; as a result many Japanese hid and were by-passed! But so many, I asked, and Buddy said they had 50 prisoners right now and took me to them. Sure enough, there they were; and while we were watching two Marines were ordering them to a different area. One was so short, even though he wore a small uniform it was way too big and he had trouble keeping up. Even so, he moved a lot faster when a Marine guard kicked him in the rear end to move faster! I was surprised, but Fred wasn't.

Little Joe Shows Us the Scene

We asked Little Joe where they were and he took us all up there. He showed us the area where the three Japanese soldiers lived and they had camouflaged the area so it was unnoticeable to the casual observer. One person found a little gold Buddha; there were prayer sticks made out of balsa wood, which was very light. I found some pictures of a Japanese squad posing for their picture and someone gave me a few prayer sticks; I didn't really want either one, and neither did Little Joe. We went to view their bodies and it was a gory mess for the two who used their hand grenades, and already flies had been attracted to them. They were very short, one was less than five feet tall; the two others probably five feet even to five feet one inches tall. They all wore leggings that had been carefully wound up their legs and all wore a broad belt that had carried their hand grenades. I was tempted to take a belt but there was blood on all three, so I declined. Later a Marine came, who had heard the two large explosions and he found a flag that one soldier wore under his belt. It had many Japanese signs and looked like it had been signed by family and/or friends. Although I hated the Japanese because of Pearl Harbor I had no feelings for or against these three men; actually, they looked more like boys. However, it was hard to forget the atrocities the Japanese had committed at Corregidor; the Bataan Death March; in China, and the torture of captive Marines at Guadalcanal, where they used water to extend a captive's stomach, plus other tortures. No question, war is hell! The shocker came when we all realized we had gone within 8-10 yards of them yesterday, while running up and down the path! We were very lucky, but still - dumb!

The Next Day

The next day we went into Barrigada Receiving Station and had just started working when, all of a sudden, we heard a small caliber gun go off not far away, from the same area as the day before; we hit the deck but no bullet had seemed to have come our way. We just stayed where we were and then suddenly there were two loud explosions! We ducked and just watched to see what was going on; finally, we were able to see Little Joe coming down the path. He calmly greeted us, as we asked what happened up there. He told us he took a circuitous route so that he slowly came into the suspected area early that a.m. from behind; then he waited for any action he could see or hear; pretty soon he saw a Japanese come out of the underbrush, walk a short distance and relieve himself; then he saw another and another! Three! He saw no one else and he waited until he was sure there were no more nearby; then he positioned his gun and waited. Pretty soon all three were in view; then almost as suddenly Little Joe saw two walk a short distance away from him and one remained and looked around. Little Joe lined up his Navy supplied carbine and fired; the soldier dropped immediately; the other two started running away from the area and then one after another they took a hand grenade from their belt; put the grenade to their stomachs, pulled the pin and blew themselves up! So one shot resulted in all three deaths! Incredible! We were absolutely stunned with this accounting. One shot! It was startling to realize this had all happened within about one hundred fifty yards from our viewing point!

Little Joe Appears, Listens and Disappears

I greeted Little Joe, told him what had happened, and then we both went to the tank, which had absorbed the shot; showed him the spot where the bullet hit. Then both sets of eyes took in the angle of the bullet and I showed him where we all thought the bullet came from. I used a sweeping hand motion to show where I thought the Japanese were. Little Joe took this all in, without saying a word. I left him at the tank and went to talk to some of the other guys and when I turned to look back at Little Joe I discovered he had left just as he had come - silently. I really don't remember thinking any more about L.J. All of us told the new Lt. who, by now, had taken off all his ranking insignia, that we needed to talk about this business of leaving 2 men, alone, for about an hour. He simply said that we should split 50-50 and no more 2 men left...period! He agreed that the area was becoming more dangerous. He said he would take care of it, and he did. Now there would be about 4 men leaving for chow and an almost immediate return for the other four. We were all satisfied with the new arrangement. This new Lt. had "seen the light" and made some good decisions, which is all that we wanted. I also remember he never wore that style hat again. We saw him some more, but when he came he looked very much like us and had unobtrusively hidden his ranking bars, but we could see them. I liked him, and so did the rest of the guys. We respected his decisions, plus he was likable.

The Crazy Lt. Dressed Like an Admiral

The next a.m. the Lt. came with his binoculars and tried to see if there was a body where we shot, about 100 yards away; he saw nothing. A few days later a new Lt. came, with what I remember as a Frank Buck type jungle helmet with gold bars. It may not have been what I described, and it may have been a military issue hat, but he wanted to take a better look at the disabled Japanese tank so we showed him what we had observed. We were standing a little away from him while he looked, but we were all close, when all of a sudden a bullet came with a thud, accompanied by a loud bang! We all immediately dropped to the ground, looked to see if everyone was o.k.; they were and we grabbed our carbines and took off running in the direction we were sure the shot came from! Dumb!! But we didn't hesitate; found a path towards that direction and went up over a small rise. Again - dumb! We realized we were in the jungle and had seen nothing so we started carefully coming back down the path we came. The vegetation was very heavy in spots and you couldn't really see in at all. We went back to the Lt. who was very visibly shaken, since the bullet had come closest to him. As we were pointing out the area we thought the shot came from up walked Little Joe! (Cont'd)

2 Men Left Behind Problems

The approximately 6 other guys had some of the same problems as we did and once fired their carbines, but all ended o.k. I wasn't always with the same man as we had odd rotations; but one time we two were sitting; one looking back and sideways and the other looking forward and sideways, with our carbines in our hands when we both, almost at the same time saw a funny movement in some tall grass; coming toward us! Japs, we thought! We whispered not to fire until they came into a clearing about 20 yards from us! The movement in the grass came closer and closer and we now aimed our carbines at the expected opening--and out came some wild chickens!!! We broke out in quiet nervous laughter. The guys all laughed at that one when we returned to base and told them. Still, it was serious business. Still later I was with a guy I didn't particularly like; he liked looking in all directions and I thought we did better with one looking one way and the other looking the other way. We had hardly gotten started when right in front of me I saw a Japanese soldier start across a clearing in the direction where the Chomorro was shot in the stomach. I told my partner I was going to shoot; lined up my carbine and shot; missed, and he broke into a run; I fired again and he fell! My partner fired just a second behind my second shot. He was almost out of the clearing when he fell. We weren't sure we hit him but we weren't about to go looking! We told the Lt. when we saw him and he reported this also. The Marine guards thought we were crazy and they were right! The squad should be split 4-4 if they couldn't take us all back! Won't happen though. The Lt. thought it was o.k. the way it was.

Inspecting the Japanese Tank

A few days had passed and we did what we could do to make it easier for the building of the Receiver Station. Then we decided to look at a Japanese 2 man tank; it was very small compared to U.S. tanks; we looked inside and wondered how the men could work in that small space, but then remembered how small the Japanese were. The tread on our side looked a little off, but we couldn't see structural damage, so it must have been disabled or run out of gas. There was another one at jungle edge. We always did a visual of everything each a.m. and all had looked o.k., so we were unprepared to see that the generator now only had one tarp! Oh, oh. Some Japs must have swiped it and thought we wouldn't notice. We reported it to the stupid Lt. and he said he would make a report. That day it was my turn, with another guy, to be part of the 2 men left behind routine and we had the same thought; the Japs who stole the tarp are probably close by - nice! We decided to sit back to back or at least one would be looking back while the other was looking forward. El Stupido finally had chow and came back for us - no problem. Several days later we were all working when we suddenly heard a shot; then silence, and then movement towards us. We grabbed out carbines and waited. It was 2 Chamorros and they were carrying an older guy, probably in his forties. He had come upon some Japs, who shot him in the stomach. We directed them to the jeep which the Lt. had turned over to us as he "had things to do at camp", and one of the guys drove the three Chamorros back to the Medics. We never learned whether he lived or died, but assumed he died. Should have asked Little Joe, but forgot each time.

Duties at Barrigada

An extremely large generator was placed right next to where the Receiver station was being set up and was covered by two tarps for protection. We started clearing the area and one of the guys raised a board and suddenly white smoke came pouring out. We quickly put some distance away from this presumed danger, while trying to decide what it was; it looked like white phosphorus and we said "phosphorus bomb!" but couldn't decide what that meant either; so we just kept our distance until finally it ceased emitting the white vapor and we worked on other things. Talking later with the Marines we decided we were in no danger - it was spent. Then we realized some creosoted logs were in the wrong place, but we didn't have the gloves to handle them so we later requested Seabee help when they brought in equipment to knock down some coconut trees. We decided to do something else to save whatever could be used in the building of the station. It was sort of a lost day in our minds. The Lt. came in about chow time and took all but two of us in the jeep (no room for any more); we immediately wondered about the wisdom of leaving only two people but the Lt., a 90 day wonder, said all would be o.k. After we all had dinner, including the Lt. (!) he went back and picked up the other two people, who after all had their carbines in case they needed them! We started being wary of this Lt's direction.

Warning: Little Joe is on our side

After Little Joe left the guys told me what he had told them the first day he met them: It turned out that when the Japanese occupied Guam Dec. 12, 1941 it was the first American outpost to fall. The Japanese bombarded Guam for five days after Dec. seventh. The Chamorros were very American friendly, and extremely loyal, but they had no choice, obey or die. The Japanese demanded and got sexual favors from any woman they chose, or else; Little Joe's wife was no exception. It was impossible to stop them and Little Joe wasn't stupid; he just waited his time and the hatred of the Japanese was smoldering. Therefore, on the day the Americans landed he shot or used his machete on the head of two Japanese who were at his thatched roof house or hut. He said his wife was hysterical that the Japanese might win the battle, but he smiled and told the guys he knew we would win!! It turns out he was an expert shot, but he was just as good with a machete and I had later heard first hand that it was the machete he used! It turned out he was quite friendly and his smile opened up - but not a lot. He was on a mission - to kill as many Japanese as he could. It didn't matter whether it was the gun or the machete! He could carve up coconuts in seconds it seemed like. His machete was super sharp! I will tell you something that I should probably save for later but before I left Guam I heard he had killed 31.

"Little Joe" at Barrigada

(Cont'd) I had heard of other battles where the Japanese were in a hopeless situation; drank Saki and then charged the Marines. Quite often this involved hand to hand combat and the Marines were very good at this also. I thought of the private, er sergeant, er private at Camp Pendleton. Anyway, my first day had a surprise for me. The Lt. asked me to "post up" and be the guard, for today. We rotated this assignment. The Lt. returned to camp and I assumed my guard duties. I hadn't done this for very long when I suddenly looked to my left and out of the jungle came a little brown man! I quickly turned to face him and realized he had both hands in the air, with a gun in his hand. I was slowly bringing my carbine around, with the muzzle not pointed exactly at him and I yelled to the guys to watch out when several yelled, "Don't shoot, that's Little Joe! He's not a Jap, he's a Chamorro!" I kept my eyes on him and he was watching me all the way. I was very relieved when he walked up and greeted the other guys, who had met him a day or two before. He looked every one of us in the eye, talked very little, smiled only slightly; looked the area over quietly and after a short while left just the way he had come. He was only about 5'1", but he was a powerful package it turned out. Little Joe! (Cont'd)

Ah, Lovely Lovely Barrigada!

My first day I'm to go to Barrigada the Lt. asked me to do a chore for him and he said he would be back for me shortly so he took as many of the men as his Jeep would hold and then came back and got the rest of us. As we approached the sentry the Lt. noticed he had just taken the previous sentry's place and when we told him we were going to Barrigada he sort of paused and then he told us, "You guys are crazy to go in there; the Japs are still out there and last week some Navy people went out there and were killed!" The Lt. didn't say anything but, as we cleared the sentry, he said it was true that men were killed but the Marines "had cleared the area." The Lt. felt it was o.k. to go out. We all had our carbines & ammo and we understood we were only going about 500-1000 yards so we felt confident we were o.k. Also, the Seabees had cleared about a hundred yards or so from where we would be so it would be hard to sneak up on us. Naive, that's what we were. As we went in we greeted the other 4 guys who were clearing an area by hand; we observed there was a Japanese 2 man tank that was disabled; all over the area there were canteens and as we picked them up they were made of aluminum because they were very light. I opened one and could get a liquor smell, probably Saki, and it looked like this was a major fighting area. It was confirmed it was. Probably the Japanese had seen the situation wasn't good and had Saki and then attacked, probably took a few lives and then were killed.

Is that big building for us?

Food in the field k rations is healthy we understand but taste-wise it doesn't come close to Mom's food. We eat daily, but what we're really absorbed in is, just what is that large framed building going to be used for here? "Oh, that is to be Admiral Chester Nimitz's headquarters. He has been named Pacific Fleet Commander of the Southwest, and that includes all areas that General MacArthur doesn't command. He is being set up on Guam and our duty is to send, receive and give him instant messaging relating to his new command. " And what is that other good sized building for? "Oh, that's to house the Red Cross. Why? Because that will be a place for officers to sit back and relax in." Oh, I see, I think. We are finally told that a few of us have been chosen for a special detail and I'm one. We move to another safe location where we re-set up the tents and I promptly get Dengue Fever! Yep, it hurt my back; I had a fever; got lots of liquids and then I seemed to recover pretty fast. I went to our new base camp about a day or two after the others got there. There were about eight of us. We found we were all, Navy, Marines and a hut right near our tent, inhabited by Chamorros, being guarded 24-7 by Marines, with modern BAR (Browning Automatic Repeat) rifles and hand grenades. At Agana we had been issued carbine repeating rifles, ammunition, plus belts to carry it; and instructions on cleaning and taking care of our pieces. I loved my carbine and I felt confident in the event I had to use it. We were all given instruction regarding hand grenades, but not issued any.

Guam - Above Agana & Bored

We still have not sent out any Morse Code since we ended Radio School in Farragut, ID (Feb 1944)! Also, we won't until we get set up, so what is holding us up, we ask? "Patience, patience - we just need to wait until the Marines take out a few pockets of Japanese soldiers at Barrigada, which is where we will set up a Receiver Station first and then we will have normal operations!" We nod our heads and then find we are in constant briefings, like this one: "There is a lot of dysentery and dengue fever, with flu like symptoms. No one knows what causes the dengue fever, but the medical community think it is caused by the fly, because there are so many! On the dysentery we feel it is caused by poor sanitation, so wash your hands and body parts that touch anything not YOU! Wow, that clears that up! Try not to catch dengue because it is back breaking painful!" But, we don't know what causes it - right? We left this briefing scratching our heads and that is why I remember it. Except for the hourly briefings each day we just do our own thing; write letters; take a makeshift bath when we think it's time; wash our duds and we are all anxious to hear from loved ones, or friends, so mail call is fun. We get a "smoking and beer break" every day and every day it's the same for me - I give my "smokes" to Bill Evans, from San Francisco, who loves to "French smoke - where you drag the smoke in and as you open your mouth you let the smoke out only to draw it back into your lungs!" Ugh! I don't like beer that Grandma Sophia Don doesn't make so I give this away too; usually 1 to buddy Joe Duran, who is from Durango, CO, and the other to any friend who wants one. Someone always does.

Getting settled on Guam

Guam is volcanic and earthquakes are frequent, but none occurred during our stay; it is fringed with coral reefs and the mean annual temperature is 81 degrees. During the hot summer months, when the southwest monsoons are blowing there are occasional typhoons. (I have garnered the information on Guam, and some following information, from the 1955 Encyclopedia Americana). Guam was the ancient home of the proud and warlike Chamorros, but under Spanish rule around 100,000 of them were slaughtered or dispersed; those remaining intermarried with the Tagalogs of the Philippines, and with the Spaniards, produced the Guamanians of 1944. In the peace treaty with Spain the U.S. acquired Guam and there has been further introduction of American genes into a small amount of the Chamorro population. The Chamorro are a small people, yellowish brown with black hair and they are very strong.

When we disembarked from the Island Mail we were taken by truck up to a high point above the city of Agana, where we quickly set up our tents, set up areas to eat our k rations, and some men prepared heads nearby, with a wire screen protecting from flies. When we finally finished we looked down upon Agana and found it had been almost completely destroyed by naval guns in the storming of the beaches by the Marines. There were no inhabitants, but Agana had 10,000 people in 1940.

Hello Tinian, Saipan and Guam

At last we come into view of the Marianas; we saw Tinian and Saipan and as we went by we had a review of the facts regarding many of the Japanese forces jumping off the cliffs to their deaths. It is rumored that some women jumped also. It is obvious they did not want to be captured because of their brutality to our forces at Bataan and Corregidor. Soon we by-passed Rota which still had a capable, active force but they were ineffective and weren't worth losing a life over. When Guam came into view there was a collective quietness, then murmuring, when we entered Apra Harbor. We were told we had arrived at our final destination. We were told Guam was about 20 miles long and about 8 miles wide (It is about 30 miles long) and it is almost completely jungle. It is the most southerly of the Marianas group; Agana (accent over the n) is the capital and is situated by Agana Bay. One of the areas we saw and inhabited is Barrigada, which you will read more about. Before my 14 month stay was over we would see a lot of coconut trees, breadfruit and very small bananas (all organic, of course!). In each bunch of bananas there was always one that stung the inside of your mouth! We saw lots of rats; heard there were small deer; we saw wild chickens and heard there were wild pigs, but saw none; we saw lots of small lizards and every once in awhile we saw large lizards about 12-16 inches long. The cockroaches were about 2" long and very fast, plus they could fly! There were flies everywhere. When the monsoon rains appeared they left pools of water which were breeding spots for mosquitoes. There were no snakes on Guam. I counted 19 frogs around one large tree and you could see all stages in the pools of water.

The War: May-Sept. 1944 (Continued)

August 25 Allies liberate Paris; 31 Soviets enter Bucharest; 1 U.S. forces secure Tinian; 3 Stillwell's troops secure Myitkyina; 8 Japanese capture Hengyong, China; September 4 British take Antwerp; 8 First V2 strikes England; 12 U.S. forces cross German frontier near Aachen; 12 Allies breach Gothic Line - Italy; 17-26 Operation Market Garden, Allied airborne attack to seize Rhine, bridge at Arnhem falls; 22 Soviets take Tallinn (Estonia); Heavy fighting at Tarawa impressed U.S. Marines and from here on the saying was "Golden Gate in Forty Eight!); 4 Japanese seize U.S. Airbase at Lingling (China); 9-14 U.S. carrier planes sink 59 Japanese ships in the Philippines; 15-Oct. 14 U.S. forces take Peleliu; 23 U.S. forces occupy Ulithi atoll.
Tarawa changed our attitude as to how long the war would last. The Japanese fought bravely and hard. Golden Gate in '48 seemed realistic when we considered how fanatical the Japanese would fight to protect their homeland. It was at this point that our thinking was that all forces would take a heavy death toll to occupy Japan, with many wounded. It was disappointing that the war might last until 1948, but we had to more on. We weren't at that stage yet.

The War: May -September 1944

1944: May 12 German Forces in Crimea surrender; 13 Allies break through Gustav Line into Liri Valley - Italy; 18 Polish troops capture Monte Cassino; 23 U.S 5th Army breaks out of Anzio beachhead; 10 U.S.-Chinese army crosses Salween River (Burma); 17 Merrill's Marauders take Myitkina airfield; 18-20 U.S. forces seize Wadke Island, New Guinea; 29 U.S. forces land on Biak Island, New Guinea; U.S. shoots down Japanese observation aircraft, hampering Japan's efforts to defend Marianas; June 4 U.S. troops enter Rome; 6 D-Day Allies land in Normandy (Operation Overlord); 13 Germans fire first V-1 into England; 20 Soviets take Viipuri (Finland); 22 Soviets launch Operation Bagration main summer offensive; 27 U.S. troops liberate Cherbourg; 14-15 First B-29 raid on Japan from China; 15 U.S. forces land on Saipan; 19-20 Battle of the Philippine Sea (The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot); July 13-18 Battle of Saint Lo (France); 13 Soviets take Vilnius; 20 Bomb Plot: German Generals try to kill Hitler; 25 U.S. forces launch Operation Cobra; breakout from Normandy; 27 Soviets take Lvov, liberate Western Ukraine; 8 Japanese withdraw from Imphal; 18 Tojo resigns as Japanese Prime Minister; 21 Marines land on Guam, Marine infantry, supported by tanks, take three weeks of heavy fighting to defeat 19,000 Japanese defenders of Guam (to Sept 6); 24 U.S. troops land on Tinian; 24 U.S. carrier aircraft raid Bonin Islands; August 1 Polish Home Uprising begins in Warsaw; 15 Allies land in S. France; 19 Paris Resistance rises against Germans; 21 Falaise Pocket closed; defeat of Germans in W. France. (Continued)

Goodbye EWA, hello Eniwetok

All of us are tired of waiting to get going and we just did mundane things to keep our interest up. Finally, June came, then July and we heard that Saipan had been secured, as had Tinian. At last we have seen increased emphasis that we could be going somewhere--soon. We guessed the Marianas, but no one said that was the destination. Somewhere around the middle of Aug. we saw increased activity; then, toward the end of August we were given specific instructions to leave EWA. In September we loaded up and with a huge convoy we took off. There was no return of the seasickness that had plagued us leaving S.F. There were all sorts of ships; troop, cruisers, destroyers and others we heard. As we had traveled several days we saw a small speck of land, Eniwetok, and it looked to us like it was only about 15 feet out of the water! We had recaptured it a few months back. As we were sitting there in the water we were surprised to see tuna zipping around the ships, probably being chased by something and a few enterprising sailors pulled out a line and hook they brought and promptly caught a small fish with vicious looking teeth! No one could identify it. We stayed there and we understand that some of our submarines are with us. We took off the next a.m. and the convoy stretched forever. We still traveled in a zig zag pattern and then one day the Captain came on and told us to keep an eye out for enemy submarines, as some were in the area. Most of us were on the main deck and all talk ceased; with everyone looking out for submarines!

Dec.7, 1941 and May 21, 1944

I just reviewed the Nova TV program that explored the Japanese 2 man submarine question, and Nova made a startling discovery: On Dec. 7 there was a picture that showed a 2man sub, which had fired its torpedo into battleship row. The Navy discovered a 2man sub outside the entrance to Pearl H in 1000' of water. Testing showed this was Japanese sub #5 and it was discovered that the sub was self destructed and yet no evidence was found of the 2 man crew. It turns out that after cutting the nets at the entrance to P.H. the sub fired a 1000 lb. torpedo into battleship row; the other torpedo was found by Naval investigators, on land, unfired. Nova found that the sub had gone into West Loch, where the 2man crew set off the device that destroyed the sub, while the 2 Japanese used directions to get to a safe haven in Pearl City. So, how did the sub end out in the ocean? Nova found that when the Top Secret explosions occurred on May 21, 1944 the Navy quickly pulled up the LSTs and whatever else, cut it up and dumped it into the ocean, outside P.H. It turned out they had cut the sub up for disposal! Nova obtained Naval film footage of the explosions we had witnessed that Sunday, May 21st! We were about 10 miles away in EWA. Two mysteries solved.

To the beach at EWA

We were all certain the safe havens in and around Pearl Harbor had already made the news of the May 21, 1944 explosions available to the Japanese High Command. We all decide to walk through the trees between our camp and the beach and see what the beach has to offer. We found it an idyllic situation; the water was comfortable when going in and we just sort of floated in place. We watched military ships come and go through the Pearl Harbor entrance. After a few hours we walked back to our base and did normal activities. About 2 days later I wanted to go back to the EWA beach but couldn't find any takers so I went alone, something I do not recommend today. Always go in the water with a "buddy." I floated around and then got out when I realized I had fallen asleep; no problem though as I gathered my stuff; then started walking back through the trees, when I noticed movement of a very large "cat" coming down a tree. I kept my same pace while this large animal kept pace with me, but about 30 yards away. We seemed to be watching each other, when I suddenly spotted my base and walked out of the trees. The "cat" stopped at the edge. I told my buddies about the cat and no one could identify it except maybe it was a form of bobcat. Nothing exciting going on at camp.

Post May 21, 1944 analysis

We stayed on EWA far longer than many of us thought we would and we attributed this to the ammo ships blowing up. Suddenly we were given extra duties, like guard duty, where we would be protecting our own from harm; plus, we guarded the assets we were taking with us. It made sense that the ammo ships had somehow delayed our involvement. We went into Honolulu a few more times, revisited Waikiki Beach and just killed time. Now, to shoot ahead about 40 years; I was reading the Seattle P.I. in the 1980s when I suddenly saw an article about the May 21 explosions! It didn't surprise me really, but those explosions caused the catastrophe to be labeled TOP SECRET and someone must have forgotten all about it, hidden away in some obscure files! I have the article but I'm going to tell this from memory; plus, just lately there was an interesting TV show that explored what happened: It turns out that besides the ammunition ships (2) blowing up there were six LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) involved. There was a loss of life of over 200 men and all of this was designated to be used in the invasion of the Mariana Islands! The figures we saw probably were bodies; the large objects going up in the air were the tanks and apparently some of the tanks were thrown onto land, where they were rusting. Although labeled top secret there were safe havens in Pearl that helped the one 2 man Japanese submarine that got through the Pearl Harbor entrance on December 7, 1941 and fired one torpedo that probably sank one of our battleships! They just found evidence that the two Japanese were to go to a safe haven in Pearl City! Probably the same with the explosions.

May 21, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, again?

We had only been at EWA a short time, having arrived early May. During that time there was little to do because we deduced that EWA was a short time stop; many people gave us this impression. Anyway, on this particular day, May 21st we were mostly all outside our tents, talking, when all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion! It took us a few seconds to finally locate the plume of smoke and then all hell broke loose! As we looked almost due North we were not thrilled to see that the explosions could be coming from the Lochs in Pearl Harbor! Were we under attack, I wondered, but, looking around I could see no return fire from the area that housed the battleships, so what was happening - we all wondered? We stood in wonder as explosion after explosion occurred. These explosions were from five to 10 miles away we thought. We still did not hear any sirens, nor see any planes. Pretty soon I said that I thought I could see figures that looked like bodies, but there was disagreement on this, until someone else said he agreed; then, we watched in awe as huge objects were tossed high in the air like tennis balls. I don't know how long we watched these explosions, but it was a long time before the explosions started tapering off. Long after the explosions stopped we finally hit the sack. In the morning we asked the first officer we saw what had happened? He said he heard that two ammunition ships had blown up and he thought there were about 10 or 11 casualties. We took this at face value, but I put this question mark in the far recesses of my memory.

We visit famous Waikiki Beach

The next day we all wanted to go to the beach so we got in trucks and went up the coast for some time before we saw the "perfect" beach; we got out and inflated our mattress covers from our bunks; then we would tie the end with a half knot and scoot in about 3" of water - whee! We had so much fun we decided to go back to the same spot and guess what? A storm out at sea produced high winds which decimated the sand on this spot! We had to go on further up to find what we were looking for. Then we made trips past Pearl H., on the right, up to near Pearl City, where the Base Hospital No. 6 (8?) was, where I found out my tennis doubles partner, Howard Higgins, was based, as a Corpsman; past Hickam Housing and past Hickam A.F.B., on the right; on past downtown Honolulu to Waikiki Beach. Further down the beach was the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, in pink, where we stopped. The drinkers enjoyed Mai Tai's; I watched Bobby Riggs, great tennis player, in his prime, on the Royal Hawaiian tennis courts ; outside, on the beach, was Caesar Romero, famous movie actor and a Latin heart throb; he's in the Coast Guard. From the Royal Hawaiian I looked down the beach toward Diamond Head and there was only 1 building between the two! (Today it's stacked with everything). In a few days we go to the beach close to EWA, just a short distance from the entrance to Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor and Honolulu

We couldn't wait to go on liberty and see Pearl Harbor and Honolulu. We left EWA, hopped a boat and went across to Pearl Harbor. We looked at the battleships, destroyers, cruisers, etc., which had largely been restored from Dec 7, 1941. I saw the New Jersey (?) battleship and it looked huge and in great shape; but the whole harbor looked in tip top condition. I was seeing it approximately 29 months after Pearl. We then continued on to Honolulu. When we got into the city it was teeming with servicemen of all stripes, except for admirals and generals. Let me tell you that sex of one form or another was the mainstay of the day. There were lines of servicemen, which included officers also, waiting to visit the many prostitutes; if you wanted a picture with a pretty Hawaiian girl the cameraman would take his time, while you needed three hands to fend off her two hands exploring the 13 buttons, but most of the guys "just enjoyed the experience." It was beautiful in Honolulu and extremely interesting; you could eat the many exotic foods and fruits of Hawaii; entertainment was first class. Every Hawaiian dancer was named "Helen"; and we saw all the movies when they first came out. I remember seeing "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald; tremendous vaudeville shows with current performers; and current performers from Grand Old Oprey, like Eddie Arnold, Minnie Pearl, etc. At day's end we caught the boat back to EWA.

Sea Legs

By the next a.m. I was feeling fairly good and was walking better. Had breakfast. Have you ever put your tray on a high table, while you were standing up? It's fun eating that way and watch your glass of juice, milk, or whatever, to keep it from spilling. Now the waves were smaller; lots of flying fish, which were fun to see. Slowly I had improved to get my "sea legs." We seemed to be going in a zig-zag pattern, probably to dissuade submarines, and why was that jolt last night? We never found out. After a few days we sighted land and then it became more evident that we were approaching the Hawaiian Islands. Finally, we arrived at Oahu and by now almost everyone had their sea legs, but it was a surprise when we got on shore; the land seemed to be moving! We laughed about that. We disembarked and were taken to a place named EWA (pronounced EV-ah); set up our tents; duties were assigned and we realized we were just a short distance from Pearl Harbor. My duty was with about 4 other guys, including the driver (from Texas); we drove up and around and came back to Honolulu to pick up the mail. Sounds easy, but the Texas driver got us in two accidents on the way! First he ran into someone and it was tricky staying on the flat bed of the truck where three of us were sitting down behind the cab; none of us was hurt; then he and a truck loaded with pineapples had a collision and the distraught guy told us to pick up the pineapples in the street and take them back with us. We did! Everyone back at base got some great pineapple that day.

Boy, I love the waves, urp

"Oh, I joined the Navy - to see the sea - and what did I see? I saw the sea." I think those are the words to start that song. Well, pretty soon a couple of guys in our group said they thought they would go below and "rest." I looked at them and told the men remaining, "I think they look a little green - I'll bet they are getting sea sick!" After about another half hour of watching the breakers go over the bow of the boat I suddenly didn't feel so good so I told the remaining guys I thought I would go below and rest. Shortly after going below I thought to myself that I was going to get sea sick - probably like the others. Sure enough, I made it to the tub in the center, which was no longer "empty" and made my deposit. I felt better so went back up the ladder; hadn't been there very long and felt like I was getting sick, so here we go again! By now quite a few had come down "to rest." Later on it was chow time again, but didn't feel hungry; it was another story when it was chow time again; I made it barely past those blasted garbage cans; was standing in line smelling the food and went back below again. That night we were all asleep when suddenly the ship jolted and felt like we had hit something; or, maybe something hit us! The guys who weren't sick raced for the ladder and headed up the stairs; not me, I said "Let the damn ship go down - there would have to be an alarm to send us topside!" In the a.m. I still couldn't get past the garbage can smell so returned to my bunk. By that evening I was feeling good enough to eat some soup, or anything and I made it. Felt better, but still not great. (Cont'd)

Goodbye Boat Basin

At last! After several days of doing nothing but eating, getting our seabags packed with clean clothes, writing letters home to our loved ones, we've finally been told that tomorrow we will push off; "be ready by such and such a time to leave base, with everything left in shipshape condition." We all got up early, got ready, ate and waited; finally leaving by bus to go to the train depot. I looked back at Oceanside and the boat basin and it was unanimous that all of us couldn't have been better treated; we left with a good feeling and anxious to see what happens next. The train took off and before the day was out we got off in San Francisco; went aboard a boat called the "Island Mail" and were told to go below and pick out a bunk. It was a strange area we thought; bunks all around and in the center was a very large tub-empty! We all were hungry, so we went on top; walked by a bunch of garbage cans; went through lines for some very good food; went back out and looked over the Bay. It was beautiful, sun shining; so pretty I thought Mom would have liked to paint a picture. Early the next a.m. we ate breakfast and stayed on top looking at the beautiful waves breaking toward the bay. Pretty soon we shoved off and went under the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and started hitting those beautiful waves, rocking the boat up and down and sideways and....well, you can guess what happens soon.

Oh Yes - The war - Mar & Apr 1944

The war is going admirably, thank you; but, like any war, there's a price to pay. March '44; 4 Soviets launch spring offensive in the Ukraine; 6-8 First USAAF bomber raids on Berlin; 15 Allies renew attack on Monte Cassino. Pacific; Japanese launch U-Go offensive into Assam; 17-18 U.S. carrier aircraft destroy Japanese Navy Base at Truk; 29-July 8 Battle of Imphal-Kohima; Japanese repulsed from India; 30-31 U.S. aircraft from 11 carriers attack Palau Is. April '44; 2 Soviets enter Romania; 10 Soviets capture Odessa; 17 Soviets take Turnopol. Pacific; 17 Japanese begin Ichi-Go offensive against USAAF bases in southern China; 22 Allies land at Hollandia and Aitape (New Guinea). It should be noted that The North American P-51 Mustang, originally built to RAF specifications became the best all around fighter in the European Theater, and indeed the entire war. Fast, tough and heavily armed, it excelled both as an air superiority fighter and a ground attack aircraft. Significantly, its ability to escort bombers to distant German targets drastically cut bomber losses even as it achieved the destruction of the Luftwaffe fighter force.

Fred, Buddy and I - in Long Beach

The three of us met the next day in Long Beach where we had a great time. First, we decided to get our picture taken at a photography shop we saw. I was placed in the middle with Fred and Buddy on each side of me. Then, while the pictures were being developed we went to the wooden monster and had several rides on it, laughing all the time, even though I don't like high places. We walked around the park, eating whatever we wanted and then, we had three girls who were determined to make our acquaintance. If we walked one way they got in front of us and if we walked another there they were, smiling all the time. We never could figure out how old they were but we decided they were "San Quentin Quail" and avoided them at all costs until they left. We went back and picked up our pictures; picked one and had three copies made, which they mailed for us to our folks place; mine going to Boulder, CO., not 607 Maxwell; nor 1017 Maxwell where I had previously lived but at a house I only saw once at Marine Dr. My folks, William H. Don and Dora L. Don had moved there to fix it up, sell it and move to Oregon where my Dad worked at the Tillamook Blimp Base in the war effort; then later to Los Angeles where Mom worked for Douglas Aircraft in the war effort. All three of us have been told to stay close to base because something was going to happen sooner than later. Overseas? Yep. We're anxious to go and get it over with.

The crazy wild private, er sergeant, er private Marine

(Cont'd) The Marine told me he was thirsty and asked an officer if he would get him a bottle of whiskey and that he would pay him $10. The officer hesitated and then said he would; so sure enough he brought the whiskey to the area, handed the bottle over to the Marine and asked for the $10; quickly the Marine said, "You just broke a rule about getting whiskey to me so you don't get the money; now get the hell out of here!" The officer left. I laughed along with Fred and Buddy and asked wasn't that a little dangerous? He said it was dangerous for the officer! Pretty soon he left the tent to relieve himself and Fred said, with Buddy nodding yes, that this Marine was a hurricane in battle they had been told; any "Jap" he saw he killed; he took no prisoners; and he always was raised in rank to sgt. during battle; and then demoted back to private in non battle zone areas; and that was what he was now, a private. Fred said he heard on good authority that an officer tried to discipline him and this sergeant told the officer bluntly he would obey "if he had to, but that officer had better never be seen by the Marine in battle, because he wouldn't make it back alive!" I had heard of rare instances of officers and M/Sgts being shot by "friendly fire" and I didn't doubt for a second that he meant what he said. Fred and Buddy agreed. The three of us agreed to go tackle the wooden monster roller coaster in Long Beach tomorrow.

Hey, Swabbie, have a drink of my whiskey

Early the next day, I walked to Camp Pendleton to see my Boulder buddies, Fred and Buddy. Little did I realize what entertainment was in store! I signed in when I got to the entrance and was directed to where I could find Fred and Buddy. I walked into a tent area, found them and we walked around a little; then we went back to their tent. Both were anxious to have me meet one of their tent partners, a slightly older man than we were (18-19). He was about 24 or so; hadn't shaved, and he had a bottle of whiskey in one hand. Fred had told me, laughing, that he was a little crazy wild; he had already seen some action, and he hated the enemy with a passion; that he had a friend that was captured by the "Japs" at night and was tortured so that he was sometimes screaming; this was going on so the Marines would try to rescue him but then they would be ambushed and probably more captured. The image of this was what had sent him over the edge. So, as I shook hands with him I found he was trying to pressure my hand and I responded by shaking "firmly" also. I had a very strong grip and usually won gripping contests. He looked me carefully in the eyes and said, "I like you, Swabbie--have a drink!; and with that he offered me his bottle! I was kind of taken aback because I had never drunk hard liquor. I liked dandelion wine my little paternal German Grandmother, Sofia Bay/BeyDon made, and her German beer, which she "steeped" by the chimney in the upstairs of our house at 2028 Spruce St. in Boulder, CO. So I started to say no thanks when he practically yelled, "Have a drink, Swabbie!" I looked over at Fred and Buddy and they smiled, so I deceptively took the bottle up, put my tongue against the opening, pretended I took a drink and handed the bottle back, while "swallowing." He liked this. I asked him how he got whiskey. Then he started telling me an astonishing story. Fred and Buddy started laughing. (Cont'd)

Cadet Nurse Marion returns to Seattle

Why is it that when you're having sooo much fun time slips away and before you know it Marion's leave ended. We were sad at another parting, but we both knew we had a big job to do--win the war; "Corky," taking care of patients so they could quickly become contributors to the war effort. For me, "Hank," it meant doing the very best I was capable of, to do my part in the war effort. We both just wanted the war over and enjoy normal married life, whatever that was. When Marion left we kissed and we "knew" we were destined to have a life together after the war. I stayed at the boat basin, ate their great food, but missed Corky at night. After about a day I contacted my Marine buddies, Curtis "Buddy" Warner; and probably my best friend, Fred Midcap. Fred had a "winning" closed mouth grin that somehow endeared him to attractive ladies. Buddy was described by women as handsome, but both he and Fred were in "for the long haul--to win!"; and win we must! Buddy was actually a "shirttail" relative since one of his twin brothers, Jimmy, was married to my 2nd cousin, Margie Ackerman. They invited me to come visit them at Camp Pendleton the next day and see how they lived. I agreed and went back to the boat basin.

Marion meets some simian relatives!

I was cleared for the day and "Corky" (Marion McCorkle) and I hit 99 early, put out our thumbs and got a ride to the San Diego Zoo (Car owners were wonderful to us and to all service members). We were very impressed at the zoo and its attractions, and we had lots of laughs at the monkeys and the Great Apes. We didn't ever eat much, as I remember. It was a full day when we finished the zoo. We saw a lot and Marion gently hit me as I told her she reminded me of her monkey friends. Hitch-hiking back to the Carlsbad Hotel we got ready for a good swim at the beach, where we took some photos. We were having a blast and Marion had paid $5 a day ($1.50 was the average daily wage) at the hotel. We completely forgot the war and the hospital. Then Marion showed me the booklet we received from the minister when we got married. There were a lot of "positions" we hadn't a clue about, but by the time she left we had tried them all. Not bad.....not bad! Marion called her sister, Juanita and she learned that Marion's Aunt Letha McCorkle Dodson and her husband Kenneth were in San Diego. We met them the next day. Kenneth Dodson had been born in South Africa to missionary parents; left to go to sea at a young age; became a Captain in the Merchant Marine; was coveted by the Navy and was commissioned a 1st Lt. We met them and went walking to a small cafe for lunch, when some enlisted navy men walked by, saluted Kenny and what was I thinking ? I saluted them back! We all laughed at that. Embarrassed? Yep.

Change of Plans

Early the next a.m. Marion made plans to go to the Carlsbad Hotel, about 5 miles away, while I left early to get back to camp, check in for roll call, and if we had no duties I would go back to the Beach Hotel and meet Marion. I had to wait for her at the hotel and when she showed up she proudly informed me she had walked the five miles (!) to the Carlsbad Hotel, rented a room for the duration of her stay and walked back to meet me! Wow, I was impressed, even though we were both in great shape and athletes to boot! We got out on the freeway (99 - I5 was later) and we both stuck out our thumbs - and immediately got a ride. I soon realized the car stopped for Marion, but I was with her! We visited my aunt Ollie's son, Forrest and her daughter in law Alberta in Santa Monica. We talked over current and old times; took some pictures; had a late lunch and prepared to go back to the Carlsbad Hotel. Along the way we had our photo taken; the same one that was published in the Everett, WA Herald newspaper on Valentines Day Feb. 14, 2010; but that's another story. We went to the beach at Carlsbad and just soaked up the sun, and laughed at the funny things that had happened to us in our short married life! I just realized that I vaguely remember tar balls of oil on the beach, but we didn't let little things spoil our "vacation". Tomorrow we are going to the San Diego Zoo! Should be fun.

The Fence

(Cont'd) As I approached the fence I looked up and an officer was coming straight at me. I froze..and hoped! He was a Lt. 1st class and he never once glanced at me; he dipped through the fence and kept walking! I did the same. When I arrived at the Beach Hotel Marion was waiting for me; we greeted each other and were interested in "catching up on the latest." It was a great feeling to see my wife again! We talked for hours while walking around; with darkness approaching we walked out in a field by a train trestle to look at the luminous night sky and the Pacific ocean while we hugged and kissed; this led to more and afterward we were getting ready to walk back to Marion's hotel when, about 150' away a match glowed and I could see the glow of a cigarette! We had been seen by a guard of the railway trestle! We laughed, hastily got ready to leave - quickly! Clearing the area we laughed as we got into Oceanside. We made plans for early tomorrow to hike into L.A. and on to see my second aunt and uncle, Alberta and Forest Allen. Then Marion told me the best news; a young woman by the hotel had offered her bedroom for the night since her military husband had overnight field maneuvers. It was a wonderfully relaxing experience; I didn't have to worry about sneaking back into Camp Scott at Farragut and I only had to get back to camp at a certain time for roll call, after which we would again be dismissed for 24 hours. Ah, heaven!, even if temporary.

Hot Lips has arrived in Oceanside, CA

I only know of a few who have been following my blog but to them I want to apologize for the giant pause in between blogs! Marion & I left Feb. 12th, 2010, flying Southwest AL to San Diego to visit daughter Chris and Jeff J., plus pets Wanda, Sammy, Kitty, Tiger and Trouble; and to visit oldest daughter Joanne, John and Charlie G. Then on to Catalina Spa at DHS; Las Vegas, then back to the desert and then on to San Diego. Everything was fun and we had the greatest visit and then Max, returning from L.V. got ill, in fact very ill, with what was later described as "a very very nasty cold virus" by his Dr., who also warned it was long lasting, maybe 6 weeks before recovering. I missed two return flights before I was able to return to the Seattle area, still feeling very weak. Two and one half months after first contracting the "virus" I still don't have full strength. About 75% pre-vacation. It is now June 15, 2010.
*******************
Marion arrived in Oceanside via train to L.A. and Greyhound bus from there. It was exciting knowing we would have a little longer honeymoon. Marion found a place to stay where other wives of servicemen were, in a place called The Beach Hotel. The banquet room had been converted into a dormitory. To remind the reader; I had every other day off and the brass at Oceanside allowed us off on the other every day. We just had to make sure we didn't do something wrong to embarrass the military, because then we were on our own and the military command would act accordingly. The first day she got there was a day with unofficial leave so I prepared to leave camp through the wired apart fence. (Continued)

The Swabbie and the Marines

We finished our boat basin training in just a few days and it became commonplace to line up to go about our duties only to be told we were dismissed for the day. It was free time and with the fence and regular liberty every other day and night we were essentially free to do anything. It was essentially the same thing for my really great friends from my high school in Colorado; Fred and Buddy were in the 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton and we took liberties into Long Beach to ride the roller coaster. It was a lot of fun. We had to line up alongside the road and wait for any vehicles to stop for scores of men hitch hiking their way into the Los Angeles area. Sometimes we had to wait for an hour or more to get a ride. On one occasion we decided to get our pictures taken and all three of us seemed to treasure this picture. (When I went back for our twenty-fifth high school reunion Fred seemed his old self, but his wife told me he had leukemia, terminal. I was sad about this; Fred was a happy, relaxed guy, smoking a cigar at the party. Buddy passed away about four years ago at about 81 and Patty, his wife, said our picture was the one she chose to show in a building dedicated to veterans.) The three of us knew we had to do our part to get this war over with and we were anxious to fight the enemy. We were well trained and confident in the outcome. We did not underrate the Japanese because we knew they also were well trained and confident. They had been active against China and others and had valuable experience in their favor. They also had a reputation for brutality. We would match what they had to offer, and more. Roosevelt left no doubt that we would fight until we had defeated the enemy. I hoped that I would be able to vote for him as our leader. He had earned it. He inspired all of us, military and civilian alike. I very much admired Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain as well.

The War in Europe and Pacific

1944: Jan: Soviets lift siege of Leningrad; U. S. forces land at Anzio, Italy; U.S. 5th crosses Garigliano River, Italy; U. S. assault on Marshall Islands begins; Feb: Soviet troops enter Estonia; Allies attack Monte Cassino, Italy; Big Week bombing of ball bearing and German fighter planes plants; Soviets big victory in Ukraine; U.S. landing on Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Is.; and Japanese launch offensive in Burma.

We have arrived at the boat basin in Oceanside, CA. Food is outstanding and word is that after a few weeks training we will be deployed somewhere in the South Pacific.
We have every other night off to go to Oceanside or? And an unwritten rule allows us to go through a tied apart fence to take in Oceanside or? on the nights we don't have official liberty! So, the result is we get every night off! We just have to keep our noses clean and don't do anything to embarrass us or the military. I'm phoning Marion!
When Marion heard I get every night off, plus weekends she put in for 2 weeks vacation! Sounds good to me. She has been approved and will arrive within two or three days!

End of Radio School/How's the War Going?

The last few weeks of radio school went quickly and we were now Radiomen 3rd Class. We all prepared to board a train for Oceanside, CA where we would practice landing craft exercises at the Boat Basin.
Since the end of Boot Camp we found out how the war was going: July 1943: Soviets win largest tank battle of the war; Allies land in Sicily; Soviet summer offensive begins; U.S. troops enter Palermo, Italy; Mussolini overthrown, new government formed. Pacific: two large Naval Battles in the Soloman Is., and Japanese evacuate Kiska, Aleutian Is. Aug: USAAF bomb Ploesti Oil Fields, Romania, 50 of 177 bombers lost; Messina falls, Sicily ours; Disastrous USAAF raid on Scheinfurt & Regensburg; Soviets retake Karkov; New Georgia captured in Pacific and Naval Battle of Solomon Is.; Japanese resistance ends on New Georgia; Sep: Italian government accepts armistice; Allies land at Salerno and Taranto; German commandos rescue Mussolini, and Soviets recapture Smolensk; Allies & Australia land on New Guinea; Oct: U.S. troops enter Naples and British enter Foggia; Soviets launch offensive toward Baltic States; U.S. 5th crosses Volturno River, Italy; Stilwell's Chinese troops advance in Burma; Australians take Finschaven in New Guinea; Naval Battle off New Georgia; U.S. aircraft raid Rabaul Naval Base; Nov: Soviets retake Kiev; air battle of Berlin; British forces assault Gustav Line; U.S. Marines land on Bouganville, Tarawa and Makin, Gilbert Is.; Dec: Soviets launch offensive in Ukraine; Scharnhorst sunk; U.S. forces land in New Britain. Continued.

There Must Be a Better Way

I walked to the road that would take me back towards Farragut. Imagine my surprise when a small truck picked me up and said he was going to Farragut! What good luck, maybe. I explained what had happened that day and that I had gotten married, but needed to stop and get out short of the sentry station. I also asked him to not say anything. He laughed and said he would help me out by not saying a word He had lived in Colorado also and we talked over the weather. True to his word he let me out about 200 yards from the gate and wished me luck. I got off the road, circled around the sentry station, walked through the trees until I could see the officer quarters and the place I had gotten out. I saw no one in the area and just started walking fast through the area until I reached the fence; placed my peacoat down and slid through under the fence. Got up and walked rapidly towards a barracks, which wasn't mine; pretended to go in, but didn't and walked around this first barracks and went to my own. I walked in just like I normally would and when I came into view of my friends they were shocked! They didn't think I would make it out, let alone come back in the same way. My first question: Did the Chief come and have roll call. When the answer was "No" I relaxed. When I told the story they were lying on the floor laughing like crazy. I said I would never do that again! They persisted, asked where and how I got out? I told them, but advised against it. One week later three or four of them tried to sneak out the same way, but were apprehended and they were given Captain's Mast and restricted to no liberty for the remainder of the time there. It was only two weeks more until we would be graduating and leaving so they wouldn't lose much. It was clear that the Navy knew we all wanted to fight the Japanese and for minor offenses they only restricted liberty for offenders unless it was for assaulting an officer or insubordination. I wast just lucky. I wasn't even mad at the guy who threw the snowball and didn't care or know who had actually hit the Chief in the head.

Marianne Returns to Seattle

After talking a few hours Sunday 6 Feb 1944 we went back to our room; gathered up our things and Marion put hers in a very small suitcase she brought. We then checked out - same clerk at the counter.
It was fun just holding hands, talking, enjoying each other's company. It felt like an osmosis type activity which just kept growing within us.
We had a light lunch and it was fun sitting side by side listening to each other's lives. We both wanted to win this war - fast - so we could get on with the rest of our lives.
I remember thinking what a great companion Marion was and we had barely touched the surface, plus we were very young. If we wrote often we could still keep up with each other's life to a great extent.
Finally it was time for Marion to return to the Greyhound Bus Depot for her 5:00 pm trip back to Seattle so we walked slowly back to the depot.
It was a lingering kiss and then she took her seat on the bus and the bus moved away.
It was time for me to go back to the barracks and I was a little worried because it was no longer snowing. Visibility was very good. Not a good sign. Still......there's hope the luck holds out.

Mini Honeymoon in Spokane

It was an unexpected and wonderful experience to go through the experience of getting married. However I wouldn't recommend it to the casual observer in the way we had to overcome obstacles, and some of those obstacles still remained for me. I still had to get back into my barracks. We didn't think of any of this at the time we were in Spokane though.
When we arrived at our rental place the same clerk was at the counter; and now Marianne was effusive in her praise of Spokane, all the while very visibly showing her left hand, which now had her engagement and wedding ring in place. The clerk did take a good look at her hand however. Marion and I have laughed about it from time to time.
We were hungry and ate at a moderate priced coffee house nearby. Then we decided to go to a movie and we saw a Deanna Durbin (she was a very young singer and so so actress) movie which was actually one of her best. Then we went back to our room and looked at and read again the material Rev. Hughes had given us.
The next morning we got up early, went to breakfast and toasted each other for being married one whole day! We were both very happy and we talked about what we were going to do after the war was over, including where we would like to live. I wanted two children; an older brother who could help protect his younger sister. Marion surprised me by saying she wanted a basketball team - five! Wow, that's a lot! But sounds fun. (Continued)

It's a Miracle - Married!

We rushed over to the church, introduced ourselves to Rev. James B. Hughes and his wife. Rev. Hughes talked to us, asked us many questions, which we answered and he said he would marry us. We told him we had to go to Spokane to my jewelers and get the wedding ring and we would be back by such and such a time. He agreed to the approximate time to do the wedding. Cost? Whatever we feel we can afford was his answer. He said his wife and secretary would sign as witnesses, since we had no one there.
We then went back to the bus depot and took a bus to Spokane; went to the jewelry store and picked up the wedding ring; then we inquired about a room for the night. We were told this one place was good, clean and reasonable so we went there. While there I got a room, which had a community bathroom, which was acceptable to us. I signed us as Mr. and Mrs. while Marion discretely kept her left hand out of sight. We then left to go back to the church to be married. The bus got us to Couer d' Alene in just a short while and we walked to the church. Rev. Hughes had us married in nothing flat. The witnesses signed the certificate and I paid Rev. Hughes $5 I believe. They were all happy for us, which we appreciated. Then the Reverend gave us some material to read on the way back to Spokane. We read the material and some of it was nudgingly intimate! We laughed quietly on the trip back to Spokane. (Continued)

Is It Time to Get Married?

(Continued) I was helping the trucker get the lugs off the flat tire when a vehicle approached and I stuck out my thumb; he stopped for me (During the war it was very common for cars to pick up servicemen and women, and give them a ride, sometimes going out of their way for you. This is what happened to me.) I was driven to the bus depot; hopped out with a thank you and rushed into the depot, where I went immediately to the head and with paper towels and hand soap washed the mud off my coat. Surprisingly it looked clean! I immediately left the head to find Marianne (She was Marianne when I was serious and Marion when we were just happy and carefree.) There she was looking at the entrance and I had walked right past her! We greeted each other with a kiss and as we headed for the courthouse I explained what had happened. She was incredulous at first and then we both had a laugh and a big smile. We picked up the forms needed; were told they close at noon and they gave directions to where we would get our blood test. They were very cooperative and warned us we were on a short timeline. We rushed over to get the blood test, which we knew we would pass, but they said it would take a little past noon and to have the Licensing Bureau hold their counter open past noon by 15 or so minutes so we could get our license, so we went back to the Licensing counter and they said they would wait for us to deliver the blood test results; then back to the blood test lab and waited for the results; we passed and they handed us the envelope to give to Licensing. We got our marriage license and we thanked them for waiting past noon. They were all smiles, as were we. To answer our question they said a Minister of the Baptist Church did a lot of weddings and gave directions. (Continued)

Sometimes It's Better to be Lucky, Than Good

When I walked in the barracks I was firm but resolute. I quietly told my friends I was going to sneak out, if I could; at least I was going to try. If this doesn't work I said I wanted to talk to the guy who threw the snowball! My friends wondered if this was a wise choice? "Hell no, it's not, but it's what I'm going to do. At the least I've got to get word to Marianne at the bus depot." It was snowing harder so I put on my rubbers (galoshes) so I wouldn't ruin my newly shined shoes.
(When I told this story to our entire family at our sixtieth wedding anniversary the grandchildren laughed at the word "rubbers".) As I walked out of the barracks wearing my peacoat I looked at the area to see where the best place was to get out of our fenced area; I quickly decided there was some water, with snow, going under the fence in one place and I took off my peacoat; folded the outside so it covered the inside; slid on the coat, forcing the mud ahead of me so I could get under the fence; got under and out; looked around and guess where I was--Officers Quarters! Takes brains, I thought, but I forged on, with the snow now coming down even harder. I walked within 50 feet of several quarters where officers and their families stayed; heading for the trees beyond. Before long I realized I had lost one of my rubbers and when I got into the safety of the woods I threw the other rubber away into the bushes. I circled around the gate where the sentries were and came upon the road when I could no longer see the sentry area. I just started walking down the road when a truck appeared from the gate. I was relieved to see it was a civilian truck that had delivered some supplies; stuck out my thumb and he picked me up. He was headed for Couer d' Alene and I was thankful I had gotten this far. We progressed a few miles down to a better road when he realized he had a flat tire! I apologized for not being able to help him, having already told him I was late to my wedding. At this stage I felt it was his problem - not mine. He understood and wished me well. (Continued)

Game Day! We're Getting Married - Or Are We?

I was awake early on Sat. 5 Feb 1944, exactly 66 years ago today! It doesn't seem possible in some respects. This year the fifth falls on a Friday. I rechecked everything I was taking and wearing, which wasn't much; brushed my teeth, showered, shaved and dressed in my dress blues; then went down early for muster to get our instructions and be told we were given passes for our assigned liberty weekend--only, guess what?--it didn't happen! How could this be? It was snowing lightly and there was snow on the ground. The Chief turned his back to us briefly and in that instant everything changed! Someone from the back row threw a snowball and hit the Chief on the back of his head. From the back came laughter, but as the Chief slowly turned most of us cringed, because he did not look amused at all! He said only a few words, "Liberty is cancelled! You are all restricted to your barracks!" Then he started walking away. I was stunned briefly but quickly went after him to tell him that my wife-to-be was right at that moment at the Greyhound Bus Depot in Couer d' Alene, awaiting my arrival; she had no one else to meet her; didn't know another soul, and I said we were getting married this day, the fifth. He took one look at me and said, "You WERE getting married!" When I protested, he said, "This is final!" I walked away, furious at whoever threw the snowball, but I had a bigger concern - Marianne!
(Continued)

Marianne Travels to Couer d' Alene

Marianne and I have been calling each other nicknames since shortly after we first met. Almost right away she called me Maximus and now has shortened it to Max! At times she tells me she likes Hank also, because my Dad called me Hank I like it! Also, when she was calling me Maximus she was forever talking about Marion County, Iowa, where her father Sam was born, plus his many siblings and I starting calling her Marion. She would smile when I said it so I've lately started calling her several nicknames, but the one she enjoys the best is Marion - so Marion it is, along with some others.
On the fourth of February, after finishing her shift, Marion told a few of her closest friends that we had decided to get married during my liberty (every two weeks) on Saturday, 5 February 1944. They were very happy for her, and for us. She carefully started packing her suitcase for every essential she could imagine and walked, with her suitcase in hand, for eighth and Stewart where the Greyhound Bus Depot was; she bought her round trip ticket and waited for her bus to Spokane. She was able to sleep some during the trip to Spokane and was thinking of our impending marriage and what the future would reveal. After the bus arrived in Spokane she had a light breakfast nearby and left on another bus for Couer d' Alene, ID where she settled in to await my arrival. (Continued)

Marianne (Continued)

Marianne loved the challenge of learning to be the best nurse she could be. Many considered her the top student in her class and told me so privately. It was fun listening to the compliments her nurse and doctor friends gave her when I had met them only briefly. She seemed to excel at all assignments given her. She had explained to me that due to the shortage of R.N.s, except for the R.N. supervisors of their departments, the student nurses did all the patient care. This gave them more responsibility and helped them to become the very competent nurses they were, after a relatively short period of time. Also, the nurses were excited they would be given three years of very comprehensive training. Marianne loved it all.
Marianne made preparations to leave by Greyhound Friday evening, after her nursing duties were finished for the day; then Coeur d' Alene (Idaho) "here I come!"
We would get married Saturday, and she would leave Sunday, around five o'clock to get back to Seattle for her duties Monday.
Little did she know what would ensue!

Marianne the Cadet Nurse (Continued)

There were so many students there was not enough room in the dormitories for them all. Five of the best students moved into rooms at the Sorrento Hotel, which was an outstanding hotel. Part of Marianne's education included three months at a mental facility. She went to Western State Hospital at Steilacoom, near Tacoma. About once a week the patients would attend an assembly where there was entertainment and singing. They would quickly request a very popular song of the day "Don't Fence Me In", which brought a few smiles.

Marianne's class was supposed to attend a class that many considered to be boring and nearly all said they were going to skip the class. There were only three or four nurses who showed up for the class; Marianne was one of them. Then came the thunder; the school took away all privileges for those who skipped class, which included leave and outside activities. The school also made an allowance that provided for students to marry! Marianne sent a telegram asking me to call her and said we should take this opportunity to be married as soon as possible! I called her back and we set up my next liberty, Saturday, 5 Feb 1944 as the date to be married. One worry; the wedding band was at the jewelers in Spokane. Oh well, where there is a problem there is a way! I was to meet Marianne at the Greyhound Bus Depot. She was all set to take the bus for an all night trip Friday evening. We would "wing it" the rest of the way.

Marianne the Cadet Nurse

When Marianne left high school after graduation she dedicated her life's work to help people with health issues and therefore decided she wanted to be a nurse. Her parents supported her decision by giving Virginia Mason School of Nursing $150 tuition for a three year course of study which included room and board. Her goal was to become a Registered Nurse. As her study progressed she was assigned increasingly more complex nursing duties. She loved it all, but in particular she quickly grew to love Obstetrics because it was almost always a happy place to work, with good patient contact.
About nine months after her study began her class was informed that the government was going to help fund the program and the students would be called Cadet Nurses. The government decided it had an obligation to educate enough nurses to serve the civilian population since it had taken so many doctors and nurses to serve in the military. Cadet Nurse uniforms were furnished to each student and were worn to most outside activities. A small stipend was paid monthly to purchase basic necessities.

Radio School

I was told I was picked to attend radio school and where would I like to go for the training? I chose to go to Boulder,CO or San Diego,CA, so they said no to both and set me up for Farragut Radio School Training. I had been forewarned to pick the other schools so I could be closer to my fiance in Seattle. Like I had been warned, if you wanted to be someplace else the Navy didn't want you there; they wanted your complete attention. Marianne was pleased and so was I.
First, I attended electrician classes so I could have a rudimentary knowledge of basic "101 Electrician". Thank goodness I didn't need it because I was only average, or less.
When this was completed I started Radio School. The dots and dashes were sort of fascinating and Morse Code was served up all day, except when they trotted out the Royal typing machines and we would practice typing. I could type 57 wpm in Jr. High, with no errors and 62 after being penalized and I sat at the number one position for some time. Then I got scarlet fever, with a high temperature, and had to be hospitalized. Excellent care; but at first they thought I had meningitis! This was no fun, what with one or two spinal taps, but I came around with sulfa (penicillin was just being tested for safety) and finally joined radio school again. It was a new ball game now though, I had lost some instruction and had to catch up, which I finally managed to do, plus I lost my first position and was now at the lower- middle part of the class, plus I was still weak. As an added note, Marianne's Cadet Nurse class was among the first on the West Coast to use penicillin.

More End of Boot Camp

In the evening of the first seven to ten days of boot camp a cowboy from Montana would pull out his guitar and sing sad cowboy songs; that is until someone from the back of the barracks told him to shut up! He did. Most of us were homesick.
About half way through boot camp a new group came into the adjoining barracks. Brand new, they didn't question when one of our "jokers" managed to get a doctors white coat; then went into their quarters and ordered about fifteen raw trainees up and marched them over to our area and proceeded to order them to drop their pants while he gave them a "physical inspection" like we had received when we were new. The new guys followed his orders to "stand away" while he walked back and forth; then he ordered them to spread their buttocks while a snickering audience grew larger. When the laughter finally subsided these new guys knew they had been set up by us old "veterans" of about three or four weeks!
We were told to go to the gym where we would shadow box; as it turned out for the Navy Boot Camp boxing squad. Then they approached me and I declined their invitation to box for the team. I wanted to fight the Japanese, not Americans. I don't remember any extra persuasion to box.

End of Boot Camp Thoughts

When we finished Boot Camp and paraded up to receive our "honors", i.e. we were told we had gone from Apprentice Seaman to Seaman 2nd Class, I believe; then, after Boot Camp we had to take an I.Q. Test and on special forms we stated what we wanted to do in the Navy, plus we gave a resume of what we had done; high school in my case. In the case of those who wanted to ship out and see action faster that was factored in by the evaluators. Those people were immediately segregated from those who wanted to be, say, radiomen, corpsmen, etc. I wanted to be a radioman. To keep us in condition we exercised just like in Boot Camp. Staying in shape was to be a permanent goal. When I graduated from high school I was six feet tall and weighed 143 pounds; a pretty thin kid, but I had played all the sports, including my favorite sport, football; but football didn't like me I guess. As a quarterback brought down (illegally it turns out) from Junior High I had taken a helmet in my right kidney; hurt some nerves in my shoulder tackling someone one handed, and then lastly, cracked a bone in the calf of my right leg while throwing a pass. I recovered quickly, but saw the hand writing on the wall - football was not for me. Track and tennis became my sports favorites. I was fast and ran 18 blocks to high school each day, just so I wouldn't be more than 5 minutes late for class! I asked the track coach if I could join his squad and he tested me against his quarter miler, whom I beat. I told him I wanted to continue to play tennis and he said I had to make up my mind - track or tennis? I chose tennis, but the quarter miler I beat won State! I was number 1 boys tennis but got beat by an excellent California trained tennis player who played for Pueblo in the State semi-finals and he won the tournament. That's life! My consolation was when I was fifteen our 15 and under softball team won State, and the same year I won the boys 15 and under city tennis title.

Boot Camp is Finished

I had passed all the tests, but now came long precision marches. We were looking better and better. We finally had the last of our inoculations and the guy in front of me gave a sigh of relief. The last time we had two shots, one in each arm, this sailor fainted dead away. While on the floor they gave him his shots and drug him off to the side. While Boot Camp was a pain, it gave us discipline and a feeling of being part of a team. We depended upon each other and that is what the Navy wanted. After about 2 weeks we had started calling Chief Bledsoe "Old Blood and Guts!" but when it was all over he sat around with us and answered our questions and seemed to be in a good mood. We asked him what he thought we would be doing and he said additional schooling was in store for some of us; plus he answered the question of what he thought our chances were for surviving? He gave a fifty percent answer, which was a little sobering. Chief then said: "The object is to win the war; you can't do this if you're killed, captured or disabled. Pay attention to your duties; use common sense and come home with victory." Then he took us down for group pictures. All of a sudden there wasn't a rush to do something! He saved his best for last. "There will be no time off to go home for a few days before deploying for sea, etc., except for Bob, who is going home to visit his mother in Denver!" I laughed "good for him!", but many of the sailors were at first stunned and then some one quietly said maybe there is something to this faith thing after all! Bob was all smiles when I congratulated him.

Captain's Mast

There were very few cars and no one stopped. I was really down, while Bob was up. He thought help was just around the corner. Finally I swore. Bob, still smiling, said we shouldn't use God's name in vain! I was even more down. Well, hours later, Bob was right, here came a car, not driven fast, and we put our thumbs out and the car slowly stopped. It was a woman with her daughter! We thanked them, told them of our problems and where were they going? Spokane! We hopped in and slowly drove to Spokane. They were very nice and we thanked them immensely for their help! Smiling, they said they did it because we looked like nice boys. We finally rolled in to Spokane; then got a ride to Farragut, but we were late getting in so it was reported and we had a Captain's Mast. The amazed officer listened to our story and then gruffly said we would have no more liberties. We felt relieved and we only had two more weeks until we got out of Boot Camp anyway.

Preacher Bob from Colorado

Quite a few sailors asked me if I had met this "preacher type" guy from Denver? No I hadn't but a few days later I saw him and struck up a conversation. He was the happiest looking person I'd ever seen; his face always seemed to glow! Anyway we got together a few times and just talked and usually he started out about his faith; said he had a mother in Denver; no mention of Dad or siblings. We were to go on liberty that weekend and I said I was planning on hitch-hiking my way to Seattle to surprise my future wife and give her her engagement ring. Bob surprised me by asking if he could tag along, never having been to the northwest. I said "sure" and early Saturday we took off for the jewelers in Spokane, got the engagement ring and started putting our thumbs out; got a trucker who got us to Seattle, and we took the bus or streetcar to my fiance's house where we surprised her. She borrowed her sister's car and we went to Whidbey Island, where I gave her the ring, while Bob was exploring the sights She was thrilled; after all, I had paid $157 for both rings, and on my pay of about $30/mo. it would take six months to pay them off. We had dinner at my future sister-in-law's place, talked and started hiking back to Farragut. We waited a long time and two guys said they would give us a ride about half way. We said o.k. and after a while, dozed off. After a few hours they told us this was as far as they were going. We got out, thanked them, and looked around and we were nowhere near a major road! (Continued)

Shooting the 30.06 Springfield

(Continued) The shooting would sporadically stop and then start back up again. On one of these occasions this sailor startled us when he got up by the target and said, "I think they have stopped their firing." We all yelled for him to get down. In just a few minutes the Chief came down, demanding to know who did this? Then he read him out and left. It was just silence for everyone. On our march back to camp the sailor suddenly slumped over and fainted. From that time on we never saw him and we heard he was given a Section Eight (mental) out of the service! It surprised all of us.

Somewhere in here we all got a short liberty in Couer d' Alene, ID and Spokane, WA. It was good to get out. I sent roses by telegraph to my fiance (and Mom). I told my wife to be that I had purchased an engagement and wedding ring (Spokane).

Swimming with Joe E. Brown

Yes, I swam with Joe E. Brown, but not the Movie comedian. His name was really Joe E. Brown. He had one big problem when it came to swimming - he couldn't jump in the water and swim the required distance that might, theoretically, save his life if he had to jump in the water and swim away from a sinking boat. Most of us passed the test the first time, but he froze up and when he jumped in he made no movement! He just seemed to slowly sink underwater. Left alone he would have drowned, but they pulled him out and he would try the next day, and the next, until he completed everything but the swimming so they made him start boot camp all over again! He was given all kinds of instruction and finally passed, we were told.

Obstacle course anyone? We had to run, jump, climb a twelve foot wall by rope, get down on the other side and run to complete in a timely manner. It was pretty easy to pass this test.

Shooting a 30.06 (I think I remember it right) Springfield (WWI) was a pleasant experience. It had quite a kick-back, but hitting the target area wasn't that complicated. We had one man who passed the shooting and then we all went to set targets for the others. We would show where the target was hit. (Continued)

Boot Camp Continues

(Continued) When I was in the 4th or 5th grade I was attacked by two boys on bikes. I had never seen them before and I wondered, why? But since I didn't know how to fight I did the next best thing, I ran home, probably crying. When My parents wanted to know what happened I was told, simply, to fight back. How? I didn't know how? Find a way to learn I was told. In my block there was a professional boxer who fought some fights for as many as 30 rounds! He had a boxing club and I wanted to join. He said he had a full house, but if I could beat one of his boxers I could join! I asked a friend's older brother to teach me and he did - reluctantly! To my surprise, I learned pretty quickly; challenged one of Billy's boxers, who was my age and I beat him. Billy let me in and kept the other boxer; then he showed me how to make my moves and when to hit; to keep skipping around the other fighter until I saw my chance. This I did very well, he said. So, then I waited until I saw those 2 boys, started making my way home, and they threatened me. I acted like I was going to run; one guy got off his bike; his mistake, because I knocked him down and started after the other when he got on his bike and rode away. I told the guy on the ground if I ever saw either him or his friend again, I would beat them up! I never saw them again. (Back to Boot Camp)

Allies Advance & Boot Camp

The Allies were doing fine, thank you: In Europe, the Soviets attacked the Germans along the Mius River; The British seized Pantelleria off Sicily, capturing many Italian soldiers, and in the Pacific Theater Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean areas, was responsible for all land, air and sea in the Central Pacific. The Allies captured New Georgia; Allies land at Nassau Bay, New Guinea and U.S. troops take Rendova in the Soloman Islands.

Most of us in Boot Camp were in very good condition, most having just graduated from high school. Only a few had to work very hard to keep up. Even so, the long distance marchs, running and working faster at calisthenics were having the desired effect; those having any spare fat were quickly turning it into muscle. This had another effect; men were getting shorter tempered with more and more flare ups happening. This started producing fights over the slightest provocation, with the result being a few black eyes or a few cuts. Chief noticed but said nothing. I was surprised to find I was in 6 fights in about 4 weeks, although I felt I hadn't started one of them. In about the last 2 weeks I wasn't challenged because I had won all of them, easily. (Fighting continued)

O.K. You Swabbies, Time to Get Up!

I had been asleep for what seemed like 30 minutes when I heard a sailor's voice booming as he walked from one end of our quarters to the other: "O.K. you swabbies, time to get up! Drop your c--k and grab a sock," and he kept repeating this all the way. I was slowly getting my eyes open and peering into the lights, which had been turned on. I started getting out of my bunk and I asked no one in particular, "Did he say what I thought he said?" "Yep, you heard right," a couple of humorless voices answered. I finally put on some steam; grabbed my shaving kit and brushed my teeth, shaved and left the head to get my dungarees on. I carefully checked my appearance and asked if I looked all right. "Yep" was the answer and I left to go to the parade grounds as ordered. Chief Bledsoe was there to tell us to get spaced out enough so we could swing our arms; run in place or do what he ordered. We went through a long period of exercises, accompanied by music. When this was complete he told us that he expected us to be in military condition quickly and that he expected us to be able to pass the swimming tests; run the obstacle course; parade, in unison, military style and handle a gun. Any real screw ups, by anyone, might and usually would result in a specified number of runs "around the grinder" (parade grounds). As we all expected, someone spoke out of turn when the chief was talking and he ordered us all "once around the grinder." This produced the desired effect from the chief's point of view because the rest of the squad told the offending sailor off. Discipline! That was the name of the game.