Today in Battalion History:
Births:
1926 - Bertel E. Blomquist (Naval Medical Section) born in Oreboro, Sweden.
1926 - Herbert H. VonCalio (Able Company) born in New York.
Wartime:
1944 - First Battalion, 24th Marines, embarks aboard the USS DuPage, en route to Namur, Kwajalein Atoll.
1944 - Private William Edward McNeal (Charlie Company) joined from Camp Elliott, CA.
1944 - Private Carl Lloyd McNeally (Charlie Company) joined from Camp Elliott, CA.
1944 - Private Charlie Lemon Stringer (Charlie Company) joined from Camp Elliott, CA.
Deaths:
1983 - Corporal Weston Arnold Burns (Able Company) in Boston, MA. Age 65.
2002 - Second Lieutenant Robert Clark Euler (Baker Company) in Prescott, AZ. Age 77.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Battalion History, January 12
Today in Battalion history:
Births:
1919 - Teddy Warren Groger (Baker Company) born Kenton, KY.
1919 - Henry F. Svoboda (Charlie Company) born in Long Island City, NY.
1922 - Edward Grant Eller (Baker Company) born in Lake Worth, FL.
1925 - Burnett Paul Fenger (Able Company) born in New Orleans, LA.
1925 - Thomas E. McCarthy (Charlie Company) born in Baltimore, MD.
Wartime:
1944 - The battalion made its final preparations on land before embarking for combat.
Deaths:
None.
Births:
1919 - Teddy Warren Groger (Baker Company) born Kenton, KY.
1919 - Henry F. Svoboda (Charlie Company) born in Long Island City, NY.
1922 - Edward Grant Eller (Baker Company) born in Lake Worth, FL.
1925 - Burnett Paul Fenger (Able Company) born in New Orleans, LA.
1925 - Thomas E. McCarthy (Charlie Company) born in Baltimore, MD.
Wartime:
1944 - The battalion made its final preparations on land before embarking for combat.
Deaths:
None.
New (old) Photos...
Pictures from the Swarthmore Halcyon yearbook, class of 1941.
Phil's longtime girlfriend, "Rusty," whom he met on the train to Swarthmore his freshman year. They were engaged, and she traveled out to California to meet him at Camp Pendleton to be married. On the day he was to meet her, though, Phil drew officer of the day and was restricted to base. Anne's father convinced her to go home; the wedding never happened.
The Swarthmore track team, of which Phil was a co-manager. Being very tall and somewhat ungainly (there are several references to his loping stride - see above - and comments that he "ran like a wounded deer") Phil was not cut out for running, but found a way to be involved anyway.
Swarthmore's Little Theater Club, of which Phil (third row, fourth from right) was president in 1940. He also appeared onstage in one of the lead roles in "The Petrified Forest" by Robert Sherwood. Given his father's profession as an actor, it makes sense that Phil would try his hand on the stage.
Phil (front row, second from right) with the members of an organization called The Society of Kwink, which apparently was a campus managerial organization.
The Phi Delta Theta fraternity, 1941.
All of the above from www.archive.org
Also, some photographs of another First Battalion officer: Stephen Opalenik.
Before the war, Opalenik was a semi-professional wrestler of some reputation; he competed under the name Steve Brodie (sometimes Brody). For a detailed report on his wrestling career, as well as the source of the above picture, please visit:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/10/30/15890921.html
Sergeant Steve Opalenik (right) with his lieutenant (left) and other comrades in 1944, sharing a bottle of Japanese beer. The caption stated that the picture was taken on Roi Island, which suggests that Opalenik a member of the 23rd Marines, though I haven't been able to precisely determine which unit he was from. Opalenik had several close calls during the fight, after which he probably received a promotion to platoon sergeant; after Saipan (where he won a Silver Star) and Tinian, he was given a combat meritorious commission as a second lieutenant.
Lieutenant Opalenik was commanding the 81mm mortar section of 1/24 during the battle of Iwo Jima; while directing their fire on February 22, 1945, he was hit by Japanese counter-battery fire and killed. His last act before his death was to direct his men to take cover, likely saving many of their lives.
Phil's longtime girlfriend, "Rusty," whom he met on the train to Swarthmore his freshman year. They were engaged, and she traveled out to California to meet him at Camp Pendleton to be married. On the day he was to meet her, though, Phil drew officer of the day and was restricted to base. Anne's father convinced her to go home; the wedding never happened.
The Swarthmore track team, of which Phil was a co-manager. Being very tall and somewhat ungainly (there are several references to his loping stride - see above - and comments that he "ran like a wounded deer") Phil was not cut out for running, but found a way to be involved anyway.
Swarthmore's Little Theater Club, of which Phil (third row, fourth from right) was president in 1940. He also appeared onstage in one of the lead roles in "The Petrified Forest" by Robert Sherwood. Given his father's profession as an actor, it makes sense that Phil would try his hand on the stage.
Phil (front row, second from right) with the members of an organization called The Society of Kwink, which apparently was a campus managerial organization.
The Phi Delta Theta fraternity, 1941.
All of the above from www.archive.org
Also, some photographs of another First Battalion officer: Stephen Opalenik.
Before the war, Opalenik was a semi-professional wrestler of some reputation; he competed under the name Steve Brodie (sometimes Brody). For a detailed report on his wrestling career, as well as the source of the above picture, please visit:http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/10/30/15890921.html
Sergeant Steve Opalenik (right) with his lieutenant (left) and other comrades in 1944, sharing a bottle of Japanese beer. The caption stated that the picture was taken on Roi Island, which suggests that Opalenik a member of the 23rd Marines, though I haven't been able to precisely determine which unit he was from. Opalenik had several close calls during the fight, after which he probably received a promotion to platoon sergeant; after Saipan (where he won a Silver Star) and Tinian, he was given a combat meritorious commission as a second lieutenant.Lieutenant Opalenik was commanding the 81mm mortar section of 1/24 during the battle of Iwo Jima; while directing their fire on February 22, 1945, he was hit by Japanese counter-battery fire and killed. His last act before his death was to direct his men to take cover, likely saving many of their lives.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Battalion History, January 11
Today in Battalion history:
Births:
1909 - William W. Comer (Able Company) born in Knoxville, TN.
1909 - Aquilla James Dyess (HQ Company) born in Anderson, GA.
1913 - Edward John Horan (Able Company) born in Shenandoah, PA.
1914 - Frank August Harder (Charlie Company) born in Queens, NY.
1921 - Frank L. Bagiotti (Baker Company) born in Landisville, NJ.
1923 - Andrew Zihar (Charlie Company) born in Pennsylvania.
1926 - Roland K. Jennings (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) born in Lincoln, MO.
1927 - Harold Gene Brunson (Able Company) born in Decatur, IL.
Wartime:
1944 - PFC James E. McAdams (Able Company) joined from H&S Company, 24th Marines.
1944 - PFC Joseph Anthony Maffioli (Able Company) admitted to USNH San Diego.
1944 - PFC Eugene O. McFarlin (Charlie Company) admitted to USNH San Diego.
1944 - PFC Herbert Bowers Newman (Baker Company) joined from H&S Company, 24th Marines.
1944 - PFC Anselm G. Saltarelli (Baker Company) joined from Camp Elliott.
1944 - Private Kenneth E. Imhof (Charlie Company) joined from H&S Company, 24th Marines.
1944 - PhM3c Lloyd G. Smith (Naval Medical Section) transferred to 3/24.
1944 - PhM3c Elmer H. Wilkinson (Naval Medical Section) transferred to 3/24.
Promoted, 1944
Able Company
Corporal Dallas Merritt Colburn promoted to Sergeant.
Corporal Kermit Shaw promoted to Sergeant.
PFC George F. Svoboda promoted to Corporal.
Private Carl Joseph Willenborg promoted to PFC.
Baker Company
Corporal Stanley T. Homewood promoted to Sergeant.
Corporal Fred B. Penninger promoted to Sergeant.
PFC Donald L. Fitzpatrick promoted to Corporal.
PFC Roy E. Husner promoted to Corporal.
PFC Robert Koch promoted to Corporal.
Private Otto Henry Becker promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Lee Breslin promoted to PFC.
Private Murray Bower promoted to PFC.
Private Clifford A. Cederleaf promoted to PFC.
Private James B. Cochran promoted to PFC.
Private James H. Faircloth promoted to PFC.
Private Homer Lee Hager, Jr. promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Max Halligan promoted to PFC.
Private Elmer R. Hensley promoted to PFC.
Private Ripley George Judice promoted to PFC.
Private Arnold E. Kennedy promoted to PFC.
Private George L. May promoted to PFC.
Private Jack D. McCormick promoted to PFC.
Private James Marlow Morgan promoted to PFC.
Private Lee Lowry Parker, Jr promoted to PFC.
Private Loyd Pittman promoted to PFC.
Private Edward Pretaboir promoted to PFC.
Private Donald John Rader promoted to PFC.
Private Harold Roy Rediske promoted to PFC.
Private Henry Jake Reiker promoted to PFC.
Private Francis John Reynolds promoted to PFC.
Private Wendell C. Ricker promoted to PFC.
Private Jeff Rodriguze promoted to PFC.
Private Donald M. Rothweiler promoted to PFC.
Private James Brooks Shearin promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Warran Swanson promoted to PFC.
Private Edward Ronald Vaid promoted to PFC.
Private Frank H. Vargas promoted to PFC.
Private Jerome Morris Verschaeve promoted to PFC.
Private Glenn Lawrenece Wolfe promoted to PFC.
Charlie Company
Corporal Joseph B. Cowan promoted to Sergeant.
Corporal Ansel Darby promoted to Sergeant.
PFC Joe William Browning promoted to Corporal.
PFC Mike D. Mervosh promoted to Corporal.
PFC William R. Patterson promoted to Corporal.
Private John C. Carlson promoted to PFC.
Private Lowell D. Cox promoted to PFC.
Private Patrick T. Curran promoted to PFC.
Private William R. Flood promoted to PFC.
Private Joe R. Griffin promoted to PFC.
Private Ernest J. Hayes promoted to PFC.
Private Francis J. Hermansen promoted to PFC.
Private Guy Kenneth Hoefle promoted to PFC.
Private Donald Leroy Jettenberg promoted to PFC.
Private Clifford James King promoted to PFC.
Private Norman M. Lucas promoted to PFC.
Private Andrew Matulica promoted to PFC.
Private Eugene Leroy Moore promoted to PFC.
Private Kenneth N. Mountain promoted to PFC.
Private Lilbert W. Morgan promoted to PFC.
Private Sol Nichinson promoted to PFC.
Private Lawrence H. Olliges promoted to PFC.
Private Leonard John Osterberg promoted to PFC.
Private Henry T. Paker Jr. promoted to PFC.
Private Archie Campbell Patton promoted to PFC.
Private Harris E. Peterson promoted to PFC.
Private Robert W. Reeves promoted to PFC.
Private Vernon K. Roach promoted to PFC.
Private Wallace R. Rook promoted to PFC.
Private Melvin Gillman Root promoted to PFC.
Private Philip A. Scally promoted to PFC.
Private Richard E. Silvera promoted to PFC.
Private John R. Stiener promoted to PFC.
Private Charles J. Swanson promoted to PFC.
Private Robert L. Taylor promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Gottleib Twernbold promoted to PFC.
Private Joe Valadez promoted to PFC.
Private Jesse Calvin Wallace promoted to PFC.
Private Carl M. Warner promoted to PFC.
Private Weldon Guy Wells promoted to PFC.
Private Morris Sexton Whitehead promoted to PFC.
Private Tom Saleeba Zakem Jr promoted to PFC.
Dog Company
Corporal William Warren Buller promoted to Sergeant.
PFC Robert Edward Newbury promoted to Corporal.
PFC Franklin C. Robbins promoted to Corporal.
PFC Forest Charles Schlenker promoted to Corporal.
Private Donald E. Anderson promoted to PFC.
1945 - Private Claude Tipton, Jr (Baker Company) discharged, disability.
1946 - Corporal Oscar R. Stone, Jr (Baker Company) discharged, expiration of service.
Deaths:
2008 - Peter A. Printz, Jr (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) died in Coeur D'Aline, ID. Age 81.
Births:
1909 - William W. Comer (Able Company) born in Knoxville, TN.
1909 - Aquilla James Dyess (HQ Company) born in Anderson, GA.
1913 - Edward John Horan (Able Company) born in Shenandoah, PA.
1914 - Frank August Harder (Charlie Company) born in Queens, NY.
1921 - Frank L. Bagiotti (Baker Company) born in Landisville, NJ.
1923 - Andrew Zihar (Charlie Company) born in Pennsylvania.
1926 - Roland K. Jennings (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) born in Lincoln, MO.
1927 - Harold Gene Brunson (Able Company) born in Decatur, IL.
Wartime:
1944 - PFC James E. McAdams (Able Company) joined from H&S Company, 24th Marines.
1944 - PFC Joseph Anthony Maffioli (Able Company) admitted to USNH San Diego.
1944 - PFC Eugene O. McFarlin (Charlie Company) admitted to USNH San Diego.
1944 - PFC Herbert Bowers Newman (Baker Company) joined from H&S Company, 24th Marines.
1944 - PFC Anselm G. Saltarelli (Baker Company) joined from Camp Elliott.
1944 - Private Kenneth E. Imhof (Charlie Company) joined from H&S Company, 24th Marines.
1944 - PhM3c Lloyd G. Smith (Naval Medical Section) transferred to 3/24.
1944 - PhM3c Elmer H. Wilkinson (Naval Medical Section) transferred to 3/24.
Promoted, 1944
Able Company
Corporal Dallas Merritt Colburn promoted to Sergeant.
Corporal Kermit Shaw promoted to Sergeant.
PFC George F. Svoboda promoted to Corporal.
Private Carl Joseph Willenborg promoted to PFC.
Baker Company
Corporal Stanley T. Homewood promoted to Sergeant.
Corporal Fred B. Penninger promoted to Sergeant.
PFC Donald L. Fitzpatrick promoted to Corporal.
PFC Roy E. Husner promoted to Corporal.
PFC Robert Koch promoted to Corporal.
Private Otto Henry Becker promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Lee Breslin promoted to PFC.
Private Murray Bower promoted to PFC.
Private Clifford A. Cederleaf promoted to PFC.
Private James B. Cochran promoted to PFC.
Private James H. Faircloth promoted to PFC.
Private Homer Lee Hager, Jr. promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Max Halligan promoted to PFC.
Private Elmer R. Hensley promoted to PFC.
Private Ripley George Judice promoted to PFC.
Private Arnold E. Kennedy promoted to PFC.
Private George L. May promoted to PFC.
Private Jack D. McCormick promoted to PFC.
Private James Marlow Morgan promoted to PFC.
Private Lee Lowry Parker, Jr promoted to PFC.
Private Loyd Pittman promoted to PFC.
Private Edward Pretaboir promoted to PFC.
Private Donald John Rader promoted to PFC.
Private Harold Roy Rediske promoted to PFC.
Private Henry Jake Reiker promoted to PFC.
Private Francis John Reynolds promoted to PFC.
Private Wendell C. Ricker promoted to PFC.
Private Jeff Rodriguze promoted to PFC.
Private Donald M. Rothweiler promoted to PFC.
Private James Brooks Shearin promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Warran Swanson promoted to PFC.
Private Edward Ronald Vaid promoted to PFC.
Private Frank H. Vargas promoted to PFC.
Private Jerome Morris Verschaeve promoted to PFC.
Private Glenn Lawrenece Wolfe promoted to PFC.
Charlie Company
Corporal Joseph B. Cowan promoted to Sergeant.
Corporal Ansel Darby promoted to Sergeant.
PFC Joe William Browning promoted to Corporal.
PFC Mike D. Mervosh promoted to Corporal.
PFC William R. Patterson promoted to Corporal.
Private John C. Carlson promoted to PFC.
Private Lowell D. Cox promoted to PFC.
Private Patrick T. Curran promoted to PFC.
Private William R. Flood promoted to PFC.
Private Joe R. Griffin promoted to PFC.
Private Ernest J. Hayes promoted to PFC.
Private Francis J. Hermansen promoted to PFC.
Private Guy Kenneth Hoefle promoted to PFC.
Private Donald Leroy Jettenberg promoted to PFC.
Private Clifford James King promoted to PFC.
Private Norman M. Lucas promoted to PFC.
Private Andrew Matulica promoted to PFC.
Private Eugene Leroy Moore promoted to PFC.
Private Kenneth N. Mountain promoted to PFC.
Private Lilbert W. Morgan promoted to PFC.
Private Sol Nichinson promoted to PFC.
Private Lawrence H. Olliges promoted to PFC.
Private Leonard John Osterberg promoted to PFC.
Private Henry T. Paker Jr. promoted to PFC.
Private Archie Campbell Patton promoted to PFC.
Private Harris E. Peterson promoted to PFC.
Private Robert W. Reeves promoted to PFC.
Private Vernon K. Roach promoted to PFC.
Private Wallace R. Rook promoted to PFC.
Private Melvin Gillman Root promoted to PFC.
Private Philip A. Scally promoted to PFC.
Private Richard E. Silvera promoted to PFC.
Private John R. Stiener promoted to PFC.
Private Charles J. Swanson promoted to PFC.
Private Robert L. Taylor promoted to PFC.
Private Robert Gottleib Twernbold promoted to PFC.
Private Joe Valadez promoted to PFC.
Private Jesse Calvin Wallace promoted to PFC.
Private Carl M. Warner promoted to PFC.
Private Weldon Guy Wells promoted to PFC.
Private Morris Sexton Whitehead promoted to PFC.
Private Tom Saleeba Zakem Jr promoted to PFC.
Dog Company
Corporal William Warren Buller promoted to Sergeant.
PFC Robert Edward Newbury promoted to Corporal.
PFC Franklin C. Robbins promoted to Corporal.
PFC Forest Charles Schlenker promoted to Corporal.
Private Donald E. Anderson promoted to PFC.
1945 - Private Claude Tipton, Jr (Baker Company) discharged, disability.
1946 - Corporal Oscar R. Stone, Jr (Baker Company) discharged, expiration of service.
Deaths:
2008 - Peter A. Printz, Jr (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) died in Coeur D'Aline, ID. Age 81.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Battalion History, January 10
Today in Battalion history:
Births:
1923 - Ripley George Judice (Baker Company) born in Jeanerette, LA
Wartime:
1944 - Private Meyer Wisotsky (Charlie Company) transferred to Camp Elliott, CA.
Deaths:
1994 - PFC Saviero B. Rossano (HQ Company) died in Melville, NY. Age 70.
Births:
1923 - Ripley George Judice (Baker Company) born in Jeanerette, LA
Wartime:
1944 - Private Meyer Wisotsky (Charlie Company) transferred to Camp Elliott, CA.
Deaths:
1994 - PFC Saviero B. Rossano (HQ Company) died in Melville, NY. Age 70.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Battalion History, January 9
Today in Battalion history:
Births:
1910 - Joseph F. Clayton (HQ Company) born in Kentucky.
1916 - Herbert I. Hines (HQ Company) born in Ellsworth, WI.
1924 - Walter S. Shamray (Baker Company) born in Detroit, MI.
1925 - Robert U. Santerre (Able Company) born in Nashua, NH.
1926 - Robert James Gilbert (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) born in California.
1923 - Victor Goller (Dog Company) enlists USMC.
1940 - Francis James Gronwald (Dog Company) enlists USMC.
Wartime:
1943 - Burnett Paul Fenger (Able Company) enlists, USMCR.
1943 - Richard Lafayette McClanahan (Able Company) enlists, USMC.
1944 - Private Charles D. Horwitz (Able Company) absent without leave, 9 AM.
Deaths:
1965 - PFC Edward A. Brasus (Baker Company) died in Chicago, IL. Age 41.
1995 - PFC Donald James Rader (Baker Company) died in Martin, FL. Age 73.
1996 - Corporal Edward George Gollwitzer (Charlie / HQ Companies) died in Portage, WI. Age 76.
2003 - PFC Chandler M. Kelley (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) died in Bass Harbor, ME. Age 78.
Births:
1910 - Joseph F. Clayton (HQ Company) born in Kentucky.
1916 - Herbert I. Hines (HQ Company) born in Ellsworth, WI.
1924 - Walter S. Shamray (Baker Company) born in Detroit, MI.
1925 - Robert U. Santerre (Able Company) born in Nashua, NH.
1926 - Robert James Gilbert (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) born in California.
1923 - Victor Goller (Dog Company) enlists USMC.
1940 - Francis James Gronwald (Dog Company) enlists USMC.
Wartime:
1943 - Burnett Paul Fenger (Able Company) enlists, USMCR.
1943 - Richard Lafayette McClanahan (Able Company) enlists, USMC.
1944 - Private Charles D. Horwitz (Able Company) absent without leave, 9 AM.
Deaths:
1965 - PFC Edward A. Brasus (Baker Company) died in Chicago, IL. Age 41.
1995 - PFC Donald James Rader (Baker Company) died in Martin, FL. Age 73.
1996 - Corporal Edward George Gollwitzer (Charlie / HQ Companies) died in Portage, WI. Age 76.
2003 - PFC Chandler M. Kelley (2nd Marine Division Casual Company) died in Bass Harbor, ME. Age 78.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Battalion History, January 8
Today in Battalion History:
Births
1920 - Peter Wilchinski (Baker Company) born in Swoyersville, PA.
1921 - Clarence Verlon Postell (Baker Company) born in Cherokee, NC.
1926 - Joseph L. Pokorny (Able Company) born in Pennsylvania.
Wartime
1943 - Alfred M. Gabriel (Baker Company) enlisted in USMCR.
1943 - Corpus Aquino Gallegos (Baker Company) enlisted in USMCR.
1944 - Staff Sergeant Robert N. Lisenbery (HQ Company) promoted to Technical Sergeant.
1946 - Corporal Jeff Bulla Washington (2nd Division Casual Company / Charlie Company) discharged.
Deaths
1967 - Corporal John Francis Beard (HQ Company) in New York. Age 45.
Births
1920 - Peter Wilchinski (Baker Company) born in Swoyersville, PA.
1921 - Clarence Verlon Postell (Baker Company) born in Cherokee, NC.
1926 - Joseph L. Pokorny (Able Company) born in Pennsylvania.
Wartime
1943 - Alfred M. Gabriel (Baker Company) enlisted in USMCR.
1943 - Corpus Aquino Gallegos (Baker Company) enlisted in USMCR.
1944 - Staff Sergeant Robert N. Lisenbery (HQ Company) promoted to Technical Sergeant.
1946 - Corporal Jeff Bulla Washington (2nd Division Casual Company / Charlie Company) discharged.
Deaths
1967 - Corporal John Francis Beard (HQ Company) in New York. Age 45.
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