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Ka-bar to wounded Iwo Jima Vet 1/26 5th Marines


nchistory
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Any information on this Ka-bar would be greatly appreciated, maybe gen 1? Scabbard nicely carved with Gerald Digman from WV, and was a member of Co. A 1/26, wounded on March 7, 1945 when the Japanese command bunker on Nishi Ridge blew up. Not sure why the lanyard is wrapped about the throat. All help is greatly appreciatedpost-153086-0-30894500-1508714430_thumb.jpg

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These are abbreviated versions of the original material in The Spearhead by Howard M. Connor

 

March 7, 1945 D+16

 

 

The 26th Marines had launched a pre-dawn surprise attack in the center to reduce a strong pocket of resistance. By late morning these defenses had been smashed and the 3rd Battalion moved on, but reined up after a 150 yard gain to help tanks and half tracks destroy a cluster of caves and pillboxes. Later Company H, 3/26 and Company A, 1/26 continued the northward advance against resistance no heavier than an occasional shot from a sniper's rifle. Finally, H Company came up against a 30 foot ridge which appeared to be suspiciously quiet. Men began to feel that they were being watched, and tension grew as everyone sensed that something was wrong.

 

Then they saw it–a smaller dune concealed an entrance to a cave. This position obviously was an important Japanese command post–how important the Marines soon found out as Japanese came charging out to fill the air with grenades. Company H settled down to a duel and Japanese bodies began to pile up. Meanwhile, men of Company A had maneuvered around the ridge and had set up machine guns facing the rear entrance to the cave. As demolitions men blasted shut the front side, Company A pumped fire into trapped enemy who attempted to escape through the rear. Soon the cave appeared to be empty and the demolition squad sealed the second entrance. 30 Marines scaled the ridge and gazed at the ground over which they would have to fight later in the day.

 

Suddenly the earth began to tremble. The scarred hill quivered violently in a rising crescendo ending in an explosion which could be heard all over Iwo Jima. The entire ridge and the Marines on it were blown high into the air. Men nearby were stunned by the concussion. As soon as they regained their senses and realized that the Japanese had blown up the position they ran for the hill, shouting for their comrades. As the first arrivals started to dig frantically, others followed and soon Marines were pulling charred, broken bodies to the surface. Some of the toughest men could not stand the sight and began to vomit. Others, tears running down their faces, stumbled away from the scene. The ridge was a mass of twisted, torn, burning rock and sand. Smoke rose from a ragged hole so large that a good-sized apartment house could have been slipped inside. 43 casualties resulted from this action.

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Name: Gerald Digman

Casualty Date: 7 Mar 1945

Casualty Type: SS (CF)

Unit: CO A, 1STBN, 26THMAR, 5THMARDIV, FMF

Service Number: 424579

Collection: US Marine WWII Casualty Card Database

Location: TAB DID-DIK

Item ID: 19734

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Any information on this Ka-bar would be greatly appreciated, maybe gen 1? Scabbard nicely carved with Gerald Digman from WV, and was a member of Co. A 1/26, wounded on March 7, 1945 when the Japanese command bunker on Nishi Ridge blew up. Not sure why the lanyard is wrapped about the throat. All help is greatly appreciatedattachicon.gifD1.jpg

 

That is what is known as a 3rd Generation KA-BAR - it would have been the standard issue KA-BAR from early i944 thru early to mid 1945 for Marines. The 1st Generation you ask about would be easily identified by a red spacer just behind the guard and possibly another below the pommel depending on the variation.

2nd Generation would be the same as the one you are showing, except the rectangular tang protrusion in the pommel would be round. 4th and last generation would have been issued probably just after Iwo and would be identified by a thinner pommel held in place by a pin thru it with the ends visible in either side.

Hope this helps and Semper Fi

 

PS - I was only 18 days old when the Marines landed on Iwo, so my memory of it is a bit fuzzy :rolleyes:

 

post-168413-0-99762100-1508721459.jpg

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Excellent info USMCE4, thanks for the technical information, which helps place this in the correct time period for his deployment. The date on the scabbard is his enlistment date 7-13-42.

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Chris, What a great knife to acquire, especially with it being identified. I go out of my way to find ones just like that.

I would guess that the throat of the sheath started to deteriorate and he added the leather to repair it.

Thanks for showing it to us. Kim

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