KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2013 Share #1 Posted October 27, 2013 This is a group to a Marine captured on Wake Island who did not survive to see the end of the war. He was part of the VMF-211 contingent who fought on Wake Island along side the 1st Def. Bn. In November 1941, VMF-211 embarked 12 of its 24 Wildcats and 13 of its 29 pilots aboard the USS Enterprise for movement to Wake Island, the scene of the squadron's heroic battle. On December 8, 1941 the Japanese attacked Wake, destroying seven of the aircraft on the ground. Over the next two weeks, the remaining five planes repelled numerous attacks and inflicted great losses on the enemy. During the course of this defense, the Marine ground forces and VMF-211 caused the loss of at least four enemy warships, including the first major Japanese naval vessels sunk during the Pacific war. The squadron was also credited with 8 aircraft destroyed. After the loss of its last aircraft, the squadron became a ground unit and fought until the surrender of the atoll. The first Marine airman to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II was VMF-211's Henry T. Elrod. A planned operation to reinforce Wake Island was deemed too dangerous by the fleet command, and on December 23 Wake Island was finally overrun by a numerically superior enemy. After Wake Island surrendered, he was transported to the Shanghai War Prisoner's camp and was later transferred to Japan. On Nov 4, 1944 he died in the Osaka POW camp. Since he died of disease , he was not awarded a Purple Heart. RIP Marine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted October 27, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted October 27, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted October 27, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted October 27, 2013 Share #10 Posted October 27, 2013 Tragic story.., RIP a great Marine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted October 27, 2013 This image says it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted October 27, 2013 Share #12 Posted October 27, 2013 Not all great groups have medals... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted October 27, 2013 Share #13 Posted October 27, 2013 Not all great groups have medals... Well said KurtA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted October 27, 2013 Share #14 Posted October 27, 2013 Wonderful Wake Island ephemera, Kurt. Congrats, I'm jealous! Do you have any info the whereabouts of his medals? Regards......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes Posted October 27, 2013 Share #15 Posted October 27, 2013 Super group to the legendery Wake Island defenders.Rip Marine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted October 28, 2013 Share #16 Posted October 28, 2013 Great group-thanks for keeping this hero's memory alive. RIP Marine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry K. Posted October 28, 2013 Share #17 Posted October 28, 2013 Very moving grouping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted October 28, 2013 Share #18 Posted October 28, 2013 Very nice Kurt. Thanks for sharing his story! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy Posted October 28, 2013 Share #19 Posted October 28, 2013 AWESOME LOT !!! RIP MARINE. SEMPER FI. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted October 28, 2013 Share #20 Posted October 28, 2013 Kurt, Great group as always! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted November 3, 2013 Share #21 Posted November 3, 2013 Very interesting and historic group to a brave Marine.Cool to see that they actually have the medal number list for his Expeditionary Medal.In my honest opinion, and not to take away from this amazing group, I think all POWs that die while in captivity deserve a Purple Heart. Semper Fi! Marine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted November 3, 2013 Share #22 Posted November 3, 2013 This is a seldom seen group, medals or not. Very nice, Kurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADMIN Posted April 7, 2014 Share #23 Posted April 7, 2014 Thank you for sharing. Very sad. But, glad it is preserved so that others can learn of his sacrifice and know what true heroes are made of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share #24 Posted April 29, 2016 BTT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted April 29, 2016 Share #25 Posted April 29, 2016 Good Lord, Kurt. Those letters are second to none, incredible. May he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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