Sorry to say, I don't recognize your dad or the other men in the photos. He was Third Bn; I was First Bn. So many guys! Most of us knew only the men assigned to our companies, platoons or squads. I notice your dad was wounded at Bougainville, Dec., 1943, and D-Day, June 21st on Guam. God Bless your dad for being there! I also was a Drill Instructor at PI at the time your dad was at the rifle range. May have rubbed elbows with him a few times when I took platoons to the range to shoot for record. One never knows!
Thank you for the nice complements about the "Vet returns to Guam" story. Lest there be any misunderstanding by my fellow Marines, I met the elder Kawakubo to give him several articles I saved from his brothers clothing the day I shot him. There were no words of regret or apologies offered by either side. I just felt that his family, after all these years, would appreciate having his things (his hat, which contained his name in the lining, thus giving me the tool to find the family, a flag, and his insignia patch from his sleeve. There was plenty of emotion that day by both families. War and Rembrance? Time is truly a healer when it comes to human emotions!
I was and will be forever a proud United States Marine!
Maury |