Another 8th Marines Uniform

[TLeo]

I was fortunate to be able to obtain this dress uniform of a Marine vet of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan with Weapons Co. 1st Bn 8th Marines according to the muster rolls on Ancestry. I saw it on ebay and placed what at the time was high bid but by next morning, ebay had pulled it because of the Silver Star and Purple Heart ribbons. I contacted the seller first thing and found that he just relisted it that very morning with a BIN so I immediately grabbed it using that option.

I have Geoff at Golden Arrow doing his records search for me but found quite a bit online about this man. This officer had enlisted in 1940 and been serving as enlisted man with 8th Marines and after outbreak of war went with them to Samoa from where they were sent to Guadalcanal. Shortly before that he had actually earned a commission as 2nd Lt and once on Guadalcanal, earned his silver star by attacking Japanese machine gun positions, and in one case actually grabbed the weapon out of the bunker and then proceeded to kill the defenders.

After action there he had earned promotion to 1st Lt and, still with 8th Marines, landed on Tarawa with a platoon of 37mm guns. He fought all through that battle and then went with the 8th to Saipan as platoon commander of halftracks armed with 37mm. It was there in June of '44 that he was badly wounded by artillery fire and evacuated back to the states where he remained. He remained in the Corps until retirement in 1961. At some point he served on staff to Chesty Puller but am waiting on the files to flesh out that and more of his career. There is actually a book due to be released Sept. 15 about him from Naval Institute press called "We Were Going To Win There...or Die" I also found several articles and video of him and am including some links for those.

The coat, which was dated 1948 while a Captain, came with a pair of P1960 sterling/gold EGAs and the seller had added the period "fat ribbons. He also informed me that the period pin back Gemsco Capt. bars had been found in a coat pocket. Since it is dated '48, I plan to leave the bars and wide ribbons on it and going to hang on to the EGAs in case they actually were his. But, I did add the P1937 period EGAs to fit the ribbons.

I'm really happy to add another 8th Marines uniform(especially with Tarawa connection) to the others and be able to display them all together. Once I receive the file I may update the info in this post.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2016-10/we-were-going-win-or-die-there

http://www.fredericksburg.com/obituaries/roy-h-elrod/article_b2172e75-4868-5221-8637-514c686de0aa.html

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/html/HR03299I.htm

 

 

 

 

[TLeo]

Couple other links and the uniform.

https://www.navalhistory.org/2016/09/02/tales-from-a-tarawa-marine

 

 

 

 

[TLeo]

Forgot to add.....he passed away last December and is to be buried at Arlington at some point where his wife already rests.

 

[Teamski]

Neat. Very neat.

 

-Ski

[ParanormalTrooper]

Great uniform and research! I was wondering who got this one.

[TLeo]

Here is a link of him speaking to the Rotary Club in Muleshoe, Texas. Most of it is about that community, etc, but if you fast forward to around the 26:21 mark, he talks a bit about his experience at Guadalcanal and the action in which he earned his siver star.

 

[Kurt Barickman]

Congrats, he was also an active member of the 2nd Marine Division Association.

 

Kurt

[TLeo]

Congrats, he was also an active member of the 2nd Marine Division Association.

 

Kurt

Hearing him speak on a couple of those videos that doesn't surprise me at all.

[Raidercollector]

Nice Uniform Tom,Great History.

 

 

Nick

[TLeo]

While doing some searching on my uniform and his service, I came across an old post on the forum discussing camo utility covers and types worn by Marines in the pacific and saw a post with this photo from a book by Guy Gabaldon and Saipan. A poster provided the names of these Marines as listed in the book's original photo and I am wondering if it is mislabeled and should be "Capt." Elrod, rather than Cpl. Elrod. Compare this photo of one above in his "greens" with Silver Star and it look like me to be the same person by shape of nose and ears... He was then Capt Elrod and would like opinions. here's a link to the old post as well.....http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/9957-usmc-wwii-camo-utlility-cover/?hl=%2Broy+%2Belrod&do=findComment&comment=1420548

 

 

[bobgee]

Great uniform of a Marine hero and great research. Semper Fi........Bob

[USMCman01]

"Tarawa, G.I. - Both Southerners, both Marines, Lt. Cecil Brown (L), 27, of Tallassee, Alabama, and Lt. Roy H. Elrod, 24, of Muleshier, Texas, rest on a pier after successful assault against Japanese of Tarawa. Even while resting Lt. Brown keeps his rifle at the ready"

 

[slickdogmess]

Elrod is a Marine legend. Very cool.

[S1991]

Just seen this post. Amazing uniform and history to it! About a month ago I read his memoir.

Great book if you want some insight on his experiences!