Tarawa Betio Gilbert Islands USMC WWII 2nd Marine Division

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(November 29, 2023, 10:51:06 pm)
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Author Topic: New Zealand  (Read 3353 times)

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MikeVE

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New Zealand
« on: September 20, 2020, 03:39:00 pm »
The attached photo is from some of my Dad's pictures.  It was taken in New Zealand, at Camp Paekakariki I am pretty sure. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

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jstevens

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2020, 12:12:24 pm »
What outfit?

Jon

MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2020, 08:33:11 pm »
That would be Marines who were part of K/3/2.  My dad is on the top row, second from the left.  He transferred to L/3/2 but not sure exactly when.

gunnygp

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2020, 12:50:32 pm »
The attached photo is from some of my Dad's pictures.  It was taken in New Zealand, at Camp Paekakariki I am pretty sure. (Attachment Link)
  The officer in the center is flanked by NCOs along the front row. The other men are Privates and PFC's. Nineteen enlisted total and one officer. Possibly a Company HQ section. Will have to check the Organization Tables of the period.
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Roy

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2020, 11:51:20 pm »
The attached photo is from some of my Dad's pictures.  It was taken in New Zealand, at Camp Paekakariki I am pretty sure. (Attachment Link)
wow great photo thanks for sharing

jstevens

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2020, 02:34:41 pm »
Do you have any names of the Marines?

Jon

MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2020, 10:17:54 pm »
Sadly no, just my dad.  He had more pictures than I would figure him to have kept, but only one photo has a name written on the back of it.  And he was with one company on Tarawa and a different company on Saipan and Tinian, most of his photos were after Tarawa.  The tallest Marine on the top row appears in other photos but I do not know his name.

One of my regrets in life was that I didn't tie up some of those sort of loose ends before my dad died.  He seldom talked about the war, not until after he had a stroke near the end of his life.  He recovered from the stroke, but he did begin to talk about things.  I cannot explain why, but somehow I sort of knew his time in the Pacific wasn't something to bring up.  I have been to Tarawa twice and plan to go again and wish I had at least offered to take him back there, though I am pretty sure he would not have wanted to go.  He never seemed bitter about the war, didn't appear to hold any animosity toward those he fought against, it was just a part of his life that was in his past.

Most of his platoon was killed on Tarawa but after my dad's death I was able to get in touch with four of them who survived Tarawa.  I corresponded with, and spoke on the phone with, about 15 Marines who served in my dad's platoon and his company commander Michael P. Ryan.  I treasure those letters.
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TRGodwin

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2020, 10:16:13 am »
Mike, if you don't already have it, here is the Nov43 muster roll for 3-2. Great picture. I have a couple from Guadalcanal of my dad's platoon and it pains me that I have but only a few names. Always wished the records would have had platoon numbers. Thanks for sharing...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQUg8Amp67RHrMo0JtikeuNik5XFtNg-/view?usp=sharing

MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2020, 09:56:55 pm »
Mike, if you don't already have it, here is the Nov43 muster roll for 3-2. Great picture. I have a couple from Guadalcanal of my dad's platoon and it pains me that I have but only a few names. Always wished the records would have had platoon numbers. Thanks for sharing...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQUg8Amp67RHrMo0JtikeuNik5XFtNg-/view?usp=sharing

Thanks so much for that muster roll.  I have not seen this one for November 43.  Have seen October 43 and some later.  On the later ones, my dad is in L/3/2 but since on the one you linked for November 43, I am now pretty certain he landed with K Company.  I appreciate it very much.
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MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2020, 10:03:12 pm »
Some more photos that I am pretty sure were taken in New Zealand.

My dad on the right, do not know the Marine on the left.

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MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2020, 10:06:05 pm »
Dad on the left, don't know the other Marine.

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MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2020, 10:07:39 pm »
Don't know the name of either of these
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TRGodwin

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2020, 10:35:13 am »
More great pictures, Mike. Under the 'Leathernecks' link on Tarawa On The Web, you can find a picture that looks to be in the same place as the one with your father and another Marine inside a building. It is of the officers of K-3-2. Must have been popular place for the 2nd Marines. I believe it was the Mayfair (see card below). My dad in the middle with his buddies in what , again , appears to be the same place. My dad had the 2nd squad, 2nd platoon of E-2-2 and the Marine to the right, Sergeant Raymond Otto Roberts, had the 3rd. Roberts was KIA at Tarawa.

MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2020, 10:56:01 pm »
That is an awesome picture of your dad and the group.  And you have a very good eye to pick up on the location of these photos.  I had seen the one of the K company officers but didn't notice that it had the same background as in my photo, nor did I notice the background when looking at the photo of your dad.  Good catch!
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MikeVE

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Re: New Zealand
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2020, 11:02:47 pm »
Another New Zealand picture that really brings home to me just how intense the fighting was on Tarawa.  This picture is of my dad and and other Marines in K/3/2 in New Zealand.  On the back he wrote that he put an "X" on the ones who were killed on Tarawa.  If you enlarge it a little, you can see around 20 of the Marines so marked on their face or neck or uniform.  Hard for me to wrap my head around it.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2020, 11:04:48 pm by MikeVE »
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