USMC January 1942 - May 1945
"I landed on the 'Canal 11/4/42 with Weapons 2/8, Capt. "Jim" Crowe commanding. We were attached to the 1st Maine Division. Previously we had been on American Somoa since May 1942.
"I landed on Red 3 in the fourth wave with the 2nd platoon, Weapons/2/8. We were with Maj. Crowe's 2/8 assault battalion. We were let off our Higgins Boat at the edge of the reef, and pulled our 37mm gun to the beach through 500 yards of water. I and another Marine were on the trails and four others were pushing through the coral and water. Guys were getting hit all around us. We dragged the gun up nto the beach and none of us were hit. Maj. Crowe was surprised to see we made it because we were fired on all the way in. It was a miricle as the Jap anti-boat gun was firing at us. We were all very scared and my mouth was dry. The shells were zinging just over our heads and bullets were flying around. Crowe told us to place our gun by his CP to cover counter-attacks. We remained there to the end of the battle for four days. We were lucky as our gun crew survived the battle.
I went on to Saipan and Tinian and was wounded on Tinian. I rotated home on points October 1944 and was honorably discharged at Quantico, Virginia May 6, 1945."
Semper Fi,
Walter Pouliot
Email - Jon@tarawaontheweb.org
copyright 2003 Wheaton, Illinois
Created 28 July 2003 - Updated 8 September 2003
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