At 20, I joined the U.S. Marines from my hometown in Columbus, Ohio. By age 21, I was a Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class in C Company, 2nd Medical Battalion in the 2^nd Marine Division, and I was at Tarawa.

The USS Sheridan (APA-51) was the transport that brought my unit to Tarawa. We left New Zealand on 01 November 1943; proceeded to Etate Island in the New Hebrides (in the present-day Republic of Vanuatu); and arrived off Tarawa early in the morning of 20 November 1943. That night in the dark before the assault, I spent a fair bit of time up on deck standing behind a vent. I often did this to get fresh air and, as was the case the night before Betio, I wanted to see the action from the very beginning. The shelling of Betio by U.S. Navy ships was very impressive, noisy and colorful in the darkness before the dawn. The sunrise that morning I still remember so well – the sky was so red because of the smoke from fires caused by the naval bombardment. My unit and I did not go ashore on D-Day.

After 67 years, I remember well the ride to Tarawa, but just as vividly I remember the fact that when my unit left the Sheridan to go ashore, some Sheridan crew looted our quarters. Stuff was taken, some things were broken and we were unbelievably annoyed. One sailor of the Sheridan crew, though, was properly respectful of our feelings, and that was Edward Albert Heimberger the man who later became known as the successful Hollywood actor, Eddie Albert. Eddie blew his stack!

Early on D+1, our medical team (consisting of myself, three other Corpsmen and two doctors) headed in to Red Beach 2. By the time we got near the pier, we were in the water wading to shore trying to avoid being shot, but we made it and found our way to a large square excavated hole, slightly to the west of the pier. That was our makeshift hospital … just a hole in the ground all day treating wounded Marines. That day or the next, a bomb hit about 40 feet away from where we were, and frankly I thought it was the end of the world.

The only equipment I had with me was two canteens, a medical bag with bandages, tourniquets, morphine and 58 rolls of Life Saver candy rolls, many of which I gave to Marines. I tried my best with what I had.

One of our doctors was Dr. Walthall(sp?), and he had the disgusting habit of taking both dog tags from dead Marines. I kept complaining, but he just ignored me. He would not stop, so I just walked away. What he was doing was so disrespectful to our Marines.

On D+4 late in the day, Company C, 2^nd Medical Battalion returned to the USS Sheridan. I remember having a cup of coffee. Everyone, and I mean it … every guy in my unit and in sight nearby, was so very quiet, almost ‘stoned’ trying to come to grips with what we had just been through. Some things like that a guy can never forget. We arrived at Pearl Harbor on 02 December 1943, almost two years after the Japanese attack there which got us into the war in the first place. We discharged our casualties at Pearl; the vessel was inspected by Admiral Nimitz; and three days later we were in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, where my unit and I began the trip to Camp Tarawa.

Camp Tarawa brings back good memories, too. We had week-long crap games! Won some, lost some! And I remember well swimming for the first few weeks in our ‘birthday suits’ at Kona! That actually started a swimsuit business locally, and a suit I got there at that time I actually kept for at least the next 30 years! I also remember a Japanese family who ran a store at Kamuela. They were frightened by us Marines at the beginning, but we became friends later. The other Pacific battle I was in was Saipan, where Company C, 2^nd Medical Battalion went ashore on the first day.

Medals received by war’s end included the Presidential Unit Citation (Tarawa); Navy Good Conduct; a Combat Infantry medal, and I really believe we deserved a Marine Good Conduct medal, too. Besides lots of memories that are just as alive and vivid as when I was there at Tarawa, I have some souvenirs, including photos and a Jap bayonet.

I have been a member of the Second Marine Division Association for years. I am also a Life Member of the Marine Corps League and the VFW.

John, I hope you know just how respected and valued all you Corpsmen were at Tarawa and other Pacific battles. Time after time, I have heard Marine veterans say how deeply grateful they were and still are that you guys were there to help them in some of the most harrowing moments of their lives. They know you tried your best, and many wouldn’t have come home if you Corpsmen had not been there for them. They who survive say THANK YOU, and I say thank you for your compassionate and dedicated service to our Marines.

SEMPER FI, JOHN !

Received 29 November 2010

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