By D+7 the fight for Umurbrogol Pocket had devolved into a siege situation, to be reduced only by siege tactics. But the 1st Marine Division's commander continued to cling to his belief that there would be a "break-thru" against the enemy's opposition. He insisted that continued battalion and regimental assaults would bring victory "very shortly." When the 321st's probes eastward near the northern end of the Pocket brought them within grasp of sealing off that Pocket from the

Henry Will Jones was born in Lanier County, Georgia to Henry Hampton Jones and Evelyn Elizabeth Howell, as the 2nd of 3 children, on April 7th, 1917. After graduating from Lanier High in 1934, Jones continued his education at Georgia Military College (1935) and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. At ABAC, he played the guard position for the basketball team for Coach Orion Mitchell on the 1937 state junior college champions. Jones also played on the 1936 football team, whi

Private First Class Don Collins was a 20-year-old veteran Machine Gunner when he landed on Peleliu's White Beach. Collins had joined L Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines 15 months before and had survived the campaign at Cape Gloucester, but nothing could prepare him or anyone in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines for what would happen on White Beach. As Marines landed at 8:32am, 3/1 was devastated by a combination of mortars, artillery, machine guns, and small arms fire. "I was

Eugene Alvin Wich was born in Larimer County, Colorado on April 6th, 1919 to Andrew and Matilda Wich. His early years were spent working on his family's farm in Wellington, CO. During the Depression, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. On May 3rd, 1940, Eugene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to San Diego for basic training. Private Wich, following training, was initially attached to the 2nd Marine Division where he remained through the rest of 19

Harlan G. “Harley” Roe was a fresh 20 year old Marine when he landed on Peleliu, September 15th 1944, having a birthday only two days prior. His unit, 2/7, was initially held in reserve for the landings but upon the reports of 1/7 and 3/7’s mounting casualty numbers, 2/7 was sent in to land on the evening of D-Day. Harlan, already having survived Cape Gloucester as a Machine Gunner, was promoted to Private First Class and made a Scout Observer(636) in 2/7’s Headquarters compa

William Edward “Bill” Althouse was born on April 15th, 1924 to David and Cora Althouse in Ronks, Pennsylvania, the 2nd of 3 children. Bill graduated from Strasburg Highschool in mid 1941 just months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He worked for a few months as a carpenter’s apprentice before enlisting on January 27th, 1942 just a few months shy of his 17th Birthday. Althouse was sent to Parris Island, SC for his recruit training before he landed in Headquarters C

“Marine Cpl. Joe A. Chorpenning, USMC, of Cumberland, Md., has adopted this monkey that was left behind by fleeing Japanese on Peleliu....

We are very proud to share another fantastic relic that has been added to our collection of artifacts. This is the OCS(Officer Candidate School) uniform belonging to Lieutenant Richard “Bruce” Watkins who served as a platoon Leader with E/2/1 on Cape Gloucester and Peleliu, and then as the Commanding Officer of E company at Okinawa and China, earning a Silver Star, a Gold Star in lieu of a second Silver Star, and a Purple Heart. This is the enlisted man’s uniform he would hav

George Stoner Weaber was born on August 11th, 1919 in Dacoma, Oklahoma, the 4th of 6 children born to George and Edith Weaber. At 4 years old, George had a sister, Grace Ella who died the same day she was born. The family at that point lived in Oklahoma and in the late 30s, George’s eldest brother, Ivan, joined the United States Army where he eventually became a Captain with the 92bd Coastal Artillery in Corregidor. George, following in his brother’s footsteps, participated i

Patrick Brendan Flanagan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 6th, 1942, less than a month after the attack at Pearl Harbor. He completed basic training in March of 1942 and was placed in a guard company before he was transferred to B Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines in time to land at Guadalcanal late in November 1942. While there he was exposed to heavy enemy bombing and strafing while unloading supplies in Lunga Bay. He left that island with his first c

John Gray Aldworth was Born in New York City on October 3, 1920, he graduated from Cornell University in 1942 with a B.S. in electrical engineering and business administration and soon after commissioned into the United States Marine Corps. After further training, Aldworth was assigned to the 1st battalion, 17th Marines in 1943 as the XO of C company. After getting his first combat experience on Cape Gloucester, Aldworth was promoted to Captain and was made CO of C company of

First we would like to extend a massive thank you to Carl Wood’s family for being so gracious to allow us to be the caretakers of his wartime belongings. We never cease to be amazed by the incredible artifacts and stories we are trusted to preserve and be the caretakers of. - Corporal Carl Richard Wood was born in Elkin, North Carolina on March 24th. 1924. He grew up there working in local agriculture when the Marine Corps came to his doorstep in 1941. In Carl’s own words: “I

Edward H Frincke was born to Otto Frincke and Ella Miller on December 1st, 1920, the 5th of 6 children. After completing his schooling he went to work for Dixon & Ryan Precision tools in Royal Oak, MI. He answered his country’s call in March of 1942 and was assigned to HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in time to land at Guadalcanal where he was apart of the CP in the communications section. PFC Frincke escaped Guadalcanal unscathed and proceeded to land at Cape Gloucest

This is the later-war photo album of Corporal John “Jack” Naut who was a crewman with A Company, 1st Tank Battalion on Peleliu and...

James Arthur Gates, Jr. was born on July 3rd, 1921 to James Arthur Gates, Sr. and Katherine Gates. James completed 8th grade before quitting, going to trade school and also made side money as an icecream salesman in Worcester. James enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 11th, 1939 and was apart of several stateside guard detachments until he was sent to sea school in July of 1942. After his training, he was assigned to the MARDET on the USS Montpelier. Serge

Private First Class Vincent James Delaney was born in Poughkeepsie, NY on May 21st, 1922. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in August 5th, 1942 and attended basic training at Parris Island, SC. Following training Delaney was assigned as a 16mm Projectionist and rifleman to F company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. Delaney’s first taste of combat came when he landed at Cape Gloucester December 29th, 1943 and was engaged in fighting at Air-strip #2 on Dec. 30th. From t

Charles William “Bill” Markham was born in Alton, Illinois on October 24th, 1924 to Lawrence and Mary Markham, the first of three children. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 5th, 1943 and completed bootcamp at camp Elliot in October. Following his completion of boot camp, Markham was with the MARDET on the USS Montpelier before finding himself transferred to F Company of Major Gordon D. Gayle’s 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines on

Alphonse E Guzowski was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on December 21st, 1922 to John and Marie Guzowski. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on February 14th, 1942 in Pittsburgh, and his brother Andrew followed suit in March, enlisting in the Army. After training at Parris Island, SC, Alphonse was transferred to F company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines with whom he saw combat on Guadalcanal at Tulagi, Edson’s Ridge, and The Matanikau River. Following Guadalcanal, Alphonse was sent

Charles “Buddy” Merton Weiser was born in New Jersey on February 7th, 1921. After graduating from Salem High school in 1939, Charles answered his country’s call on January 10th, 1942 and enlisted. Following boot camp, Weiser was transferred to B/1/1 and participated in action with B company at Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester without being wounded. It was on Guadalcanal that Charles was captured in the background of a newsreel video while entrenching a Machine Gun position on

Louie Phillips was born in Roswell, Georgia on May 5th, 1917 to Richard Phillips and Hattie Raper Phillips. Phillips attended School through the 8th grade and then attended High school for a year in Atlanta before dropping out in 1939. During his tenure in school, he played football and was the captain of a baseball team at one of his schools. He also reportedly played semi-pro baseball. Phillips then joined the workforce as a textile operator at Exposition Cotton Mills wher