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chapter 3 December 27, 1944, to March 31, 1945 Reassignment from Hawaii to the Eleventh Marines, First Marine Division; preparations for the invasion of Okinawa I finally called Madge’s friend, Mrs. Ben Dillingham, who, with her husband , entertained me at lunch in a lovely home near the University of Hawaii. I felt so awkward in a civilized house that I all but fell on my face, and I did spill a cocktail on the lounge. But I liked the Dillinghams, and I enjoyed myself immensely after two more cocktails had gone down the right direction. On December 30, 1944, we climbed into a C-54 at the Navy’s big field and took off about 9:00 a.m. It was cold weather at 10,000 feet, and we wrapped ourselves in blankets. There was a stop at Johnson Island for lunch, and by 8:30 p.m., having passed the International Date Line, we landed at Kwajalein. There, on a bench in the Quonset hut that was the air terminal for Johnson Island, I saw in the year 1945 through halfclosed eyes. At 1:30 a.m., we climbed aboard again to reach Guadalcanal and its sweltering heat before 8:00 a.m. During the trip, we picked up some sleep while rolled in blankets on the floor of the plane. I met a young Captain Hennessey, a stocky, rosy-cheeked fellow who had been with the First Division during some of the fighting on Guadalcanal. He had served more than a year in the States and was now rejoining the First Division. Of course, there was plenty for me to ask him about life and conditions in the United States. Those of us headed for the First took an APC from the Canal to the Russells . Sigler and I reported in at the Eleventh Marines, only to find that the outfit was training on the Canal, having left just a small headquarters detachment behind at Pavuvu. So, after being equipped, we took command 47 Donner text.indb 47 3/28/12 10:35 AM 48  pacific time on target of some First Marine Division infantrymen going aboard an LSM and sailed back past Koli Point to the Eleventh Marines’ encampment. It must have been on January 6, 1945, that we walked into Colonel “Big Foot” Brown’s office, met his Exec, Colonel Lyman, and were assigned to the Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines, over the protest of Lieutenant Colonel Roe, who said he wanted no more ex-seacoast officers. The Second and Third Battalions were camped next to one another, with the officers’ tents along a single street in “officers’ country” under some large trees. On arrival, I met Bud Honeycutt and Bayroor Zorthian, along with MacDonald, all from my ROC, and the welcome was friendly. Then I went in for an interview with Colonel Roe and his Exec, Major Wooster. They scarcely troubled to find out if I had ever seen combat of any sort but asked if I knew anything of QM work. I said my line had been Range Section, Survey, and Ammo. That rather disappointed Roe, but he assigned me to H Battery to understudy Dick Woods, the Exec; Captain MacBride, who was then CO; Lieutenant Gibson, range officer; Lt. John Williams; and Michevich, assigned to FO duty. I met my fellow battery officers, but I continued to sack in a tent with Honeycutt. The routine was much more active than that to which I had been accustomed in the Ninth Defense during its periods of training. We rose early, spent most of the day in the field with gun drill or firing problems, had field artillery classes in the evening, and wound up with several hours at the bar. I limited my drinking but spent considerable time shooting the breeze and joining the wildly enthusiastic singing of “Waltzing Matilda,” “I’ve Got Tuppence,” “Call Out the Army and the Navy,” etc. I was coming along rather well as a Battery Exec. Dick Woods was businesslike and helpful; Johnny Williams, amusing and friendly; Gibson, a trifle surly, on purpose; Michevich, fat, lazy, and unwilling to take responsibility. Perhaps I impressed them too much as an “eager beaver” type, for I busied myself in the work to make the days pass more quickly. MacBride was easygoing. Sigler had been assigned to George Battery. Other new officers joined. An old-time Marine, Warrant Officer Franklin, took over Ordnance, and young Lieutenant Perkins joined “Item” Battery.1...

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