|
I joined the US Navy in Pittsfield in my 17th
year. I survived Boot camp at Seneca Lake, Sampson, New York, and then was
assigned to Radio School at Sampson for another five months. After that I
was sent to an Advance Radio School at the Old Soldiers’ Home at Norston
Heights, CT, where we were trained in the operation of large land-based
communication centers. After completion of that cerebral/ complex training,
we were sent to California via train. It took 10 days as we were sidetracked
every time a freight train came along. The worst (or wurst!) was when a load
of pigs and feed went by us!
We finally got to Oceanside, California, where we would
be assigned duty on or in some Pacific location – or so I thought. We’d been
at Oceanside 30 days when about 100 of us (all radiomen) were lined up and
instructed to proceed across Highway Route 101 to the nearest gate of USMC
Camp Pendleton where we “changed our stripes.” I was now attached to the
Marine Corps 1st Division as a
radio guy (translated means you schlepped the radio on your back). I know
this was not cleared with my mother.
It seems the Corps was in need of “radio guys”
after sustaining heavy losses at Tarawa and Guadalcanal. We hit the beaches
in Landing Crafts day after day in Southern California. Believe me it was
not “spring break”. After umpty-ump practice beach landings, we spent week
after week in Pendleton’s mountainous terrain. Then we shipped out. For me
it was a relief!
Now the action in the Pacific Theater of
operations has been well documented and storied the past 50 plus years. I’ll
let that slice of history stand as written, except to note I was at the
operations at the islands of Pelelieu and Okinawa and we won.
The island of Okinawa (largest island nearest
Japan) was secured (all fighting eliminated) in June 1945. Then began a
build-up of thousands of American troops in preparation for the invasion of
Japan. We got some idea of the intensity of that upcoming battle because of
the Kamikaze attacks from mainland Japan – and daily! These were fighter
planes, loaded with explosives and flown by a single young pilot giving up
his life for his deity, Emperor Hirohito. The planes would fly directly into
our troopships, carriers, and cruisers in the harbor –and land encampments
on Okinawa itself. It was impossible to shoot them all down there were so
many. Their success rate was a frightening 15% and we hadn’t set one foot on
the Japanese mainland yet.
Does this sound familiar to some of you? Recall
the suicide missions flown by religious zealots exploding in the New York
World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon of our nation’s capital. Those
gruesome but similar attacks occurred some 56 years later! It was estimated
Japan had over 1000 of these Kamikaze planes and pilots ready to be thrown
at us during the invasion of their homeland. US intelligence reported we
would incur over 400,000 casualties in the invasion.
But then we dropped the Atomic Bomb on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki after six previous days of warning to “surrender or
else.” After the bombings, Japan's generals surrendered reluctantly but only
after the Emperor said to cease-fire!
Part of the terms of the Japanese surrender in
August of 1945 was the repatriation of Japanese soldiers, workers, and their
families back to Japan safely. Many had been in Northern China since 1932
when Japan first invaded China.
The Republic of China troops (read Red Army –
R.O.C.) were licking their chops at the promise of getting back at the
Japanese. The Nationalist Army (Chiang Kai-shek forces) was supposed to
protect them until the USMC arrived in ample numbers in Northern China.
Their army was fragmented by groups led by warlords who used the armies as
means to gain personal power, land, and money. Soon after, the troops of Mao
Tse-tung (ROC) stuck their noses over the Great Wall of China and began
their assault. After two weeks, the Nationalist Chinese Army (who left us
high and dry) and the warlord groups (that were fragmented and couldn’t take
it) took off like a pack of dogs that had been force-fed jars of hot chili
peppers. During all this, we sailed through the Yellow Sea in that late
August 1945 and disembarked at the small port of Tangku. We were a battalion
(about 1200) of communicators and rifle platoons and we had 40 miles of
river to get up to Teintsin. We were to set up there and begin processing
Japanese back to their homeland.
Before we could proceed upriver, we were held
up by some nasty battling up and down the river. The Nationalist Army, the
warlords, and the forces of Mao Tse-tung or Chicoms (Chinese Communists),
were engaged in an all out turn war. We couldn’t move for a week or so until
the Chicoms chased the army of Chiang Kai-shek and the warlords out of
Northern China. They eventually ended up in Taiwan – they’re still there and
still USA supported.
Then the Chicoms turned their guns on us
because they wanted the Japanese to themselves for a final retribution.” We
couldn’t use flat bottom LCM crafter to go up the river as they could blow
us right out of the water. So we proceeded up one side of the river for a
nice 40-mile hike – replete with constant harassment fire from the opposite
side of the water. Of course, we returned the fire with weapons and mortar
fire. We had our own “post-war war” for about 14 days. That’s how long it
took us to slug our way the 40 miles to Teintsin. Both sides suffered
casualties.
Over time 58,000 marines were sent in to
maintain the tentative “peace” around Teintsin and Beijing (and to protect
our flanks and stuff). It was a standoff and there was no further organized
fighting. The Chicoms realized we were going to be in China until Japanese
repatriation was completed, so there was only “sporadic” fire. It took about
two years to complete the task and I’m told we hauled out of there
completely in 1948.
But in August of 1945, our little band of
intrepid warriors arrived in the Teintsin environs where we set up a
communications center in the only still standing structure in this area – a
former Japanese hospital. For 24 hours a day we were the ingoing and
outgoing message center for the 1st
China Marines, MAW (Marine Air Wing – about 100 planes) and the 6th
Fleet patrolling the North China and Yellow Seas. Also the Japanese
repatriation took a lot of daily communication and planning.
The US Navy would send LSTs (large open flat
bottom craft) to North China. They would wait for a series of smaller craft
to come down the river to the port of Tangku from Teintsin. Chinese gunboats
started firing at the waiting LSTs but were “neutralized” by elements of the
6th fleet.
The Japanese (families and all) were off-loaded
from the smaller river crafts (LCMs) and packed on (no luggage) an awaiting
LST. Then it was “Goodbye, Mama, you’re off to Yokahama.”
As I look back at the Chicom assault and
intervention on our forces, my views have tempered regarding the situation.
Hey, it was their country and we were the interlopers. Supposing the Chicoms
were coming up the Hudson River? They’d be about as popular as a stray skunk
looking for the restrooms at the Ladies’ Solidarity meeting.
What was Northern China like? What about the
country itself in 1945-46? It was gray, brown, and dismal! I can’t recall
any sun during my time there – none
from early fall to spring. I’m told they had some sun in the summer but you
couldn’t prove it by me.
Their economy was based on what the ground
would yield – struggling agrarians and
very poor. No industry or
factories we could see – just stinking rice paddies.
The “stores” were flimsy lean-to shacks – open
on one side where the vendors displayed their wares on some sort of cloth or
on the ground itself. You were expected to refuse the first price and
bargain for a cheaper price. Didn’t matter – you always paid more in the end
than you should have anyway.
People selling food sold whatever vegetables
and fruit they could grow. You wouldn’t buy any because they smelled of the
land they came from. They fertilized with all kinds of waste – both animal
and “other.” But the meat was something else! Hanging from hooks were
various parts of animals; could be the carcass of a cow, pig, or a sheep or
whatever – you really couldn’t tell because they were well hacked up by the
butcher. As an aside, flies and other insects buzzed around the raw meat.
The vendor would cut off a section of the meat for the customer (no scales,
just bargaining). You could tell what the smaller hanging animals were –
including dogs. Not pleasant, but true. Dogs were
not pets in North China.
Because of the Chinese food chain and the filth
endemic to all phases of living, disease was a part of their lives. Most
wore cloth masks outside in the presence of others. We were given shots
(monthly) for anything and everything. It worked for me.
We had no mess hall for the first six months we
were in China so we’d heat up individual cans of GI “C” rations in water
(ham and eggs, spaghetti, stew with potatoes, ham and pineapple, etc.) We
had small fuel-fired stoves in our tents. We used battle helmets to hold the
heated water. We washed and shaved in that water later too. About once a
week a Chinese peddler would come and sell us eggs. We also got bread about
once a week from the Navy ships in the harbor about 40 miles from us. By the
time we got the bread it was hard so we’d have poached eggs and “toast” for
a weekly treat. Not bad, either.
So when was I going to get out of this place
where we weren’t welcome and didn’t choose to be there in the first place? I
was actually eligible for return to the USA and discharge in November of
1945. But I never got clearance until April 1946! The commandant said “No
qualified replacements” for three of us applying almost monthly.
Finally the right people heard our pleas and
documented complaints. After all, we were experienced communicators in
charge of a very powerful station so we directed our case to whoever might
listen in DC - USMC Hdqtrs, US Navy Hdqtrs, BUPERS, Congressmen, etc. It
worked. Our Commandant in North China released us in April 1946 – and
reluctantly, I might add. He was mad we went over his head. But he got the
last jab. We were not given any itinerary or ship orders. The three of us
had to find the “best way home” by ourselves. We took it. It wasn’t easy.
We jumped on a packet boat (LCI) down the river
to the port of Tangku. The US Navy kindly scrounged around after we
explained our “lack of travel papers” and arranged for us to hitch a ride on
a Swedish tanker bound for Shanghai. The crew was Norwegian and had fish
every meal – and lute fish every day! Boy, did lute fish ever smell – before
and after. Whatever, they
were just great to us for the four days it took us to get to Shanghai
(through North China and Yellow Seas and up the very long Yangtze River) to
the port of Shanghai.
The Swedish tanker left us off on a pier in
Shanghai where we spent an uncomfortable night, sleeping on the board on the
dock. The next morning we went in search of the Harbor Master in hopes he
was “friendly.” He was. He got us on a large ship permanently harbored in
the port of Shanghai. It was a temporary home for American prisoners and
indicated transfers to hospital ships.
Somehow or other the Admiral in charge of the
Shanghai area heard about the “three rogue sailors dresses as marines”
bouncing around his Theater of Operations. We were ordered to appear before
him and explain why we had no official orders, itinerary, or dress blues on
our way to the USA. Somewhere the Shore Patrol scrounged up dress blues
(even our ranks had been sewn on) because, heaven forbid, we could not
appear before an admiral in marine fatigues! I still have the blue jumper I
was issued and it was marked US Coast Guard under the neck flap. It was
explained these extra outfits came from deceased personnel who never made it
for transfer off the hospital ship. Nice, huh?
Whatever, the Admiral released us for stateside
transfer (what else could he do?). We were put on a new troopship heading to
the USA – only half full so we had our fill of food we hadn’t had in a year
– vegetables, fruit, ice cream, and milk! Tummy heaven!
We were on our way. But wait – four days past
Japan our ship turned around to pick up 1000 Marines for USA discharge.
Goodbye to the swell chow. We actually went to Sasebo on the
eastern coast of Japan –
closer to Northern China than our original port of Shanghai! It was a “mere
eight day delay” on our journey.
Finally we arrived at Treasure Island Naval Base
(San Francisco). Unfortunately, the labor unions called a strike and shut
down all rail travel in the
US. If the three of us didn’t have bad luck, we wouldn’t have any luck at
all.
After a week of no way of getting home, plus our
pay records being sent on to Boston (and we were
broke!), President Truman
made an unprecedented move – the US Government was taking over all rail,
freight, and passenger service in the USA. The strike was over! Most in
America cheered this – I know I did as I was on my way to Boston and
discharge within 48 hours! After having left Northern China a “mere five
weeks ago,” I owed President Truman twice over. One, for his decision to
drop the Atomic bomb, and two, for ending the wrongful railroad strike in
1946. I voted for him in my first Presidential election in 1948, naturally.
Bill received medals for his participation in
Pelelieu and Okinawa. He doesn’t remember the battles too well, just
remembers the smell (cordite) and the noise.
___________
Currently Bill
splits his time between Pittsfield, MA, and Fort Pierce, FL. While at
Pittsfield during the summer, Bill volunteers at the National Archives and
Records Administrations’ Pittsfield regional branch. In Florida, he writes a
monthly column for the Ocean Village News, Hutchinson Island, on something
of interest or recent developments. He likes to use lots of humor.
Bill has a
lovely wife Jean, six children and 11 grandchildren, three from Siberia and
one from Guatemala.
|
