| B. H. “BARNEY” GROMMES |
| I joined the Marines when I was 22; my hometown was Beloit, Wisconsin. Before I was 23, I was in E Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, attached to the 2nd Marine Division. That’s “Easy” Company, and nothing came easy for “Easy” Company on Betio! |
| I’m not sure what transport brought me from to Tarawa, but I definitely remember the last few hours before going ashore as a time when I was playing cards, praying and relaxing. The objective for my unit, like that of other units, was clear and simple: TAKE THE ISLAND! By God we did that! |
| I was in the 1st Wave with about 20 to 25 of my buddies, and I was in combat there for about 20 hours when I was wounded and subsequently evacuated to a ship. |
| That got me the Purple Heart, but I was patched up and was able to get back with my unit in time for the campaigns at Saipan and Tinian. Before Tarawa, I had also been at Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. |
| I’m now 90 years old, and I’m proud to be a Marine. Semper Fi ! |
| Barney, thank you for your service to our country. We will always be grateful. |
| SEMPER FI, BARNEY ! |
| Received 04 November 2010 |
| Return to ROSTER |