"His tank was told to leave the beach and head back out into the water so they would not run over wounded Marines. In the course of moving through the four foot water, they hit a shell hole and the tank sank so deep that only their heads were above water, His hand was smashed when the radioman dropped the hatch on it when he got out. He was attempting to get him out of the tank for fear of drowning in the shell hole. He adds: "I believe we lost way over 1,000 men that day."
He spent one year in the Naval Hospital at San Diego, CA. and went back into service at Jacques Farm, with a Marine Mediun Tank Co. Later, he ended up at an airplane base and they made him a lifeguard at the air base. Eventually, he got an honorable medical discharge from the Marine Air Base."
Kim Tabeling, John's daughter.
Thanks to Scot Kinsman for supplying the photo.
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copyright 2004 T.O.T.W.
Created 1 March 2004 - Updated 11 July 2004
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