I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and joined the Marine Corps when I was 19. A 3-day train ride brought me to boot camp in San Diego. After eight weeks of boot camp, five weeks passed and I was in Guadalcanal. I had already been at Guadalcanal for six months and had gone on to New Zealand for seven months for rest, refit and training before the amphibious assault at Tarawa began on 20 November 1943. Unfortunately, my career in the Corps took an abrupt turn on the first day of the Battle of Tarawa.

In late October 1943, before we even left for Tarawa, we conducted numerous practice landings in New Zealand, and one of those I remember very well. One day we woke up to very high seas, so the landing exercise was postponed. The next day was still bad, but we went in anyway! Due to large waves, our Higgins boat was ‘fish tailing’ when I jumped in. The craft swung around, and I found myself hooked under the ramp. I was drowning! But my buddy, Virgil Roselle, saw what happened, crawled in and pulled me free. Virgil saved my life! We both lost our rifles, but at least I was alive! There is a superb example of how we took care of each other!

Years later I found his family in Kansas and told them all about their dad – a true hero!

USS Arthur Middleton (APA-25)

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I think it was the attack transport USS Arthur Middleton (APA-25), manned by a combined Coast Guard and Navy crew that brought my unit and me from New Zealand to Tarawa. We departed on 01 November bound for Efate in the New Hebrides (the present-day Republic of Vanuatu) where Middleton joined Task Force 53. On 14 November, Middleton departed for Tarawa.

D-Day … at 0300, we were awakened for a big breakfast. Captain William E. Tatom, our CO and a former high school coach, gathered us all together and talked to us like we were going into a big game! Sadly, he was later killed getting out of his amtrac. At 0350, Middleton arrived in the transport area off Betio. By 0608, Marine landing parties scrambled down the cargo nets to LCVP Higgins landing craft along side Middleton, and the 1^st wave got to shore at approximately 0913.

I was in a group of about 15 Marines in I Company, 3^rd Battalion, 2^nd Marines, in the 2^nd Marine Division. My personal equipment included my M-1 Garand, ammo, hand grenades, canteen, and my backpack. We were in the 3^rd wave heading for Red Beach 1. Departing Middleton, our landing craft took us to an amtrac (an LVT-1 “Alligator”).

Circling and circling until we were organized, the collection of assault craft finally formed into a group of 7 waves: 4 of amtracs and 3 of mainly LCVP Higgins boats.

LVT-1 (Alligator)

TWO LINKS TO PHOTOS OF THE LVT-1 (Alligator) COME HERE SOON.

LCVP (Higgins Boat)

TWO LINKS TO PHOTOS OF LCVPs(Higgins Boats) COME HERE SOON.

During this period, we could see our Navy ships bombard shore installations on Betio. We just sat there watching in awe at what was happening, feeling quite insignificant all the while. The 3 waves of Higgins boats couldn’t get beyond the coral reefs, and we lost many Marines there by shore fire and drowning. Others waded in the rest of the way to Red Beach 1.

In the case of the Alligator I was in, when we reached the coral reefs, we tipped up and up, presenting ourselves as a spectacular target for enemy gunners, but we finally settled down and finished going into the beach.

A few weeks before we left New Zealand, I had been promoted to corporal, and that made me an assistant squad leader. That was a huge responsibility I felt as I left the Alligator! When we hit the beach, we were pinned down by heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire, and we knew we had little chance of successfully getting over the seawall alive. There were many men all bunched up … not good … So, my buddy Al Harwood and I dropped off our packs and climbed up and through an opening in the log seawall. We decided on this way beyond the seawall because we had already seen that any Marine who tried to go over the seawall was quickly shot and wounded or killed.

What a sight to behold at that point: palm trees were burning, smoke was all over the place and the ground was pockmarked with shell holes from the naval bombardment earlier in the morning.

Sgt. Roy Johnson was already on the other side of the seawall, and with Al and me there too, we now had a total of about 12 of us. We made a little, slow progress inland and destroyed some enemy pillboxes, but at one point a Jap hand grenade landed in the sand right next to me. My buddy Al Harwood saw it, too, and hollered, “ROLL!” It exploded as I rolled and a piece of shrapnel hit my left eye. I was bleeding, but I could still see, so I just kept moving! Right after that Al was hit twice, both times in his right shoulder.

I crawled forward to where the grenade had come from. Slowly, I peered into a trench and at the same moment a Jap and I made direct eye contact for just a second. I pulled back and motioned for grenades. We filled that trench with grenades, and I believe this action helped to prevent a counter-attack that first night!

Shortly after, Sgt. Johnson took out a Jap tank, and a little later we were lying side by side trying to decide on our next move. We needed reinforcement. We were talking, and in mid-sentence he suddenly stopped talking. I looked and he had been hit between the eyes … he was dead! Of the 12 of us, 3 were now dead and 2 were wounded.

[For a more complete description of the faithful and courageous service Robert Johnsmiller’s friend Roy Johnson gave to our country, herewith is a verbatim copy his posthumous Navy Cross citation for heroic and selfless action at the Battle of Tarawa on 20 November 1943.]

*JOHNSON, ROY W.

Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously to Roy W. Johnson (335908), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Squad Leader in Company I, Third Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, on 20 November 1943. Detecting an imbedded, well-camouflaged enemy tank obstructing the advance of his squad and inflicting heavy casualties on his company, Sergeant Johnson valiantly risked his life in an effort to neutralize the hostile weapons. Crawling through withering fire, he successfully gained the turret and, after dropping a grenade within the enclosure, closed the hatch and sat on it until the ensuing explosion put the tank out of action. His brilliant initiative, daring aggressiveness and inspiring devotion to duty in the face of grave peril enabled our forces to move forward and deliver a devastating blow to opposing forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Born: at St. Paul, Minnesota

Hometown: Hollywood, California

NAVY CROSS

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[For a more complete record of the faithful and courageous service Robert Johnsmiller gave to our country, herewith is a verbatim copy his Navy Cross citation for heroic and selfless action at the Battle of Tarawa on 20 November 1943.]

JOHNSMILLER, ROBERT W.

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert W. Johnsmiller (387600), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Squad Leader in Company I, Third Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, on 20 November 1943. Leading his men over the fire-swept sea wall bordering the beach, Corporal Johnsmiller sustained a serious eye wound and, undaunted by the severe pain, led his squad, despite heavy enemy machine-gun and rifle fire, in carrying out an aggressive attack against the enemy and in destroying several hostile pillboxes continuing his efforts until persuaded to withdraw for medical treatment. By his indomitable fighting spirit, Corporal Johnsmiller contributed materially to the success of our operations against this heavily fortified Japanese stronghold, and his devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Commander in Chief, Pacific Forces: Serial 01489

Home Town: Ann Arbor, Michigan

NAVY CROSS

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It was decided that I should go for more backup and First Aid. I crawled and met Lt. Turner, our platoon leader. I said we needed more men and passed on the information about those who were dead. He then ordered me to get medical care; only then did I then continue crawling to the beach for First Aid.

Later, I was loaded onto an amtrac with others who were wounded. After leaving the beach, our amtrac got hit hard and we lost one of the tracks. Our coxswain was good! He would steer in one direction for a short distance; then he would steer in the other direction for a short distance – all with the purpose of steering a fairly straight course.

Thus, my entire stay in the sand pile on Betio lasted for less than one day. In fact, just a few hours!

I spent one night on a troop ship, and the next day we were transferred go the USS Solace (AH-5), a beautiful hospital ship.

USS Solace (AH-5)

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In a surgical ward onboard Solace, they operated on us right there and removed our bad eyes – nine of us, each left with one eye! After the operations, a very wise doctor put each of us in charge of a Marine who was totally blind! For the 8-day trip to Hawaii, we were their man “Friday.” Actually, that was great therapy for all of us!

In Honolulu, we were moved to the Aiea Naval Hospital.

AIEA NAVAL HOSPITAL

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After a week there, they loaded an auxiliary aircraft carrier with wounded servicemen. On that carrier, I even had a chance to call home before we left Hawaii! Al Harwood was sent home on that carrier, too. We are still close friends. He lives in Montana. Arriving in San Diego on 20 December and given a 30-day pass, I was able to board a train for another 3-day train ride back to Michigan. This got me home on 23 December just in time for Christmas! That was one of the sweetest Christmases I ever had!

Marilynn, who had not been too impressed with me before I left, was still in nurse’s training at the University of Michigan. When I went to see her at the dorm, I picked her up and twirled her around. She said, “Wow! You are not the same guy that left here!” We were married the following November, raised 5 great kids, and were beginning our 62^nd year together when she passed away in October 2005. I have wonderful memories!

Medals I received during the war include the Purple Heart; the Presidential Unit Citation (Tarawa); the American Campaign; the Asiatic-Pacific; the World War II Victory; and the Distinguished Service Medal from Great Britain. This last cited medal is because Tarawa Atoll, in those days, was part of the Gilbert Islands which were British territory. Three of us in our little group on 20 November 1943 earned the Navy Cross, but two of us were killed in action. I survived. To me the true heroes were buried over there! I am thankful I was able to perform, even though I was wounded.

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (Tarawa)

A LINK TO THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (Tarawa) COMES HERE SOON.

Besides these medals and memories already mentioned, though, perhaps the greatest award and memory from those times was the photo of my girl friend which I carried in my wallet during all my time out in the Pacific. It was still in pretty good shape when I got home. And when I got home, my Marilynn was there, still waiting for me. Many decades later, I still had that photo, and a few years ago, she told me to put it in with my other medals. It is there right now!

PURPLE CROSS

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In April 1944, I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps and a few months later I went back to work at the original ATT (American Telephone and Telegraph Company), where I worked for the next 37 years.

Bob, we thank you for your service. Your indomitable fighting spirit in the face of extreme circumstances and your devotion to duty typify the highest standards of the U.S. Marine Corps. This grateful country salutes you and will remember you.

SEMPER FI, BOB !

Received 29 December 2010

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