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. Sergeant Gates saw his first action when the Montpelier bombed the Island of Buka Island in 1943 at New Guinea. He was then transferred to B Company, 1st Pioneer Battalion.
After a few months on Pavuvu, Sergeant Gates and the 1st MARDIV set sail for Peleliu where they landed with the 5th Marine Regiment on Orange Beaches 1 and 2. The primary function of the 1st Pioneer Battalion was to provide the nucelus for the Division Shore Party. The percentage of Shore Party casualties on Peleliu was nearly double that of any previous operation, and there were many other factors to retard unloading, including mined beaches.
Yet “no noticeable decrease in the unloading rate occurred.” Later in the Battle, the 1st Pioneers were used to plug holes in the thin lines of the 5th and 7th Marines who were threadbare. It can be inferred that Sergeant Gates and his men of B Company were assigned to this role.
The attack of 2/5 against Baldy Ridge jumped off on the morning of 10 October, preceded by an artillery barrage, which began at dawn and continued until shortly before 1100.
At this time Company G jumped off with the mission of securing the southern spur of Baldy Ridge and advancing as far north as possible over the ridge. After a sharp skirmish with the Japanese defenders, the Marines carried the crest and swept northward until they had secured the entire ridge.
Company E, jumping off shortly after noon, seized Ridge 120 southwest of the three knobs.
The interdictory artillery fire in some instances was laid as close as 25 yards to Marine lines to keep the enemy from moving in and throwing hand grenades. It was during this attack that Sergeant Gates was shot in the left shoulder and removed from combat.
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