Theorywolf Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share #26 Posted January 17, 2011 Just a few more lines from his manuscript about landing on Iwo Jima: I landed at Iwo on D-Day on Red Beach One at about 1500 hours, and struggled up the deep volcanic ash to the top of the first terrace, below the extinct volcano Suribachi. The enemy fire was relentless and the advance of our infantry could be measured only in yards. At the end of the first horrific day, a good friend, Andy Anderson, and I dug in for the night, facing the heavily defended volcano and watching white tracers arcing at us from above. By morning, the next day, our batteries of 105mm guns were in place and firing at Suribachi. Japanese observers from the heights of Suribachi easily spotted our position. Then, at about 1000 hours all hell broke loose in an endless enemy barrage that lasted without letup until 1600....My function was to receive information on Japanese positions and troop movements from ground and air forward observers and convert the data they gave me into windage and elevation coordinates. I then phoned the coordinates to the four guns of Easy Battery, enabling our gunners to fire for effect at the target - all of this in a matter of seconds. Our team sat in a good-sized underground dugout covered with sand bags and corrugated metal strips for protection against light mortars and small arms fire." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1944 Posted January 17, 2011 Share #27 Posted January 17, 2011 Thats an Excellent Grouping you have got there well done and very impressive that would be the centre piece :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plick27 Posted January 17, 2011 Share #28 Posted January 17, 2011 outstanding group!! Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share #29 Posted January 17, 2011 Thanks to all my collecting friends! I will get some more photos up soon. Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmcski Posted January 17, 2011 Share #30 Posted January 17, 2011 Wow, Mike, just a fantastic group! They don't get much better than this one!!! Thanks a million for sharing, and congrats on owning such an amazing group. Semper! Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted January 17, 2011 Share #31 Posted January 17, 2011 Great Group, Congratulations, Take Good Care of It. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsmancollector Posted January 17, 2011 Share #32 Posted January 17, 2011 Mike, An incredible and very complete grouping to a courageous and brave Marine. Thanks for sharing this awesome piece of history and congrats on adding it to your collection! Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted January 17, 2011 Share #33 Posted January 17, 2011 Great grouping!! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatormeat Posted January 17, 2011 Share #34 Posted January 17, 2011 PFC Donald W. Traub is quoted several times in the book by Major General Fred Haynes (USMC-RET): The Lions of Iwo Jima. Don was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Regiment and was, at first, working in the Fire Control Center after landing on Red Beach 1 around 1500 hrs. Near the end of the battle for Iwo Jima he and others from his company were transferred to the 27th regiment and took part in the final battle for the "Bloody Gorge", also called "Death Valley." Don was wounded on the 23rd of March. In his own words from his writings: "On the 23rd, we were in an attack on an enemy position very near the water at the North end of the Island. We were sitting in a position which was unintentionally exposed from above for a moment, when one of the others offered me a cigarette. I reached across to accept it just as a bullet passed through my chest. I fell back into a hole in the rocks as the others moved on. I was shot at some more but was protected enough so that I could not quite be researched by the bullets. After some time, a corpsman called out to me from behind. "Can you get yourself back here!!" I got up, tried to run, but fell again. The corpsman ran out and dragged me back to a sheltered area and asked, "Where are you hit?" I said, "Aw, I'm just scratched!" The corpsman said, "Let me see your scratch!" He looked, then said: "I think the war is over for you, Marine!" The helmet below belonged to Mr. Traub. But the helmet led me to the honor of receiving some of his other bringbacks, including his manuscript, and, the field jacket he wore on Iwo Jima and was wounded in. I also have his dress blue uniform! It is simply the most important and honored grouping of my collecting years! I will have a display on the Pacific this Spring at our University's Library and Don's collection will certainly be the center piece. mike incredible grouping and thanks for sharing with the forum members. perhaps i missed it somewhere in the following thread....but (question)-- how were you so lucky to obtain such a complete WW2 USMC grouping? was the veteran a relative, friend, neighbor, etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted January 17, 2011 Share #35 Posted January 17, 2011 :w00t: ...wow!!.....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravecreek Posted January 17, 2011 Share #36 Posted January 17, 2011 WOW !! What a fantastic grouping! You are so lucky to have it. CONGRATS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted January 17, 2011 Share #37 Posted January 17, 2011 This is an amazing grouping! Congrats on snagging it. Any chance of seeing some more pics of his blues? I love em...and this is a real center piece of any collection! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share #38 Posted January 17, 2011 mikeincredible grouping and thanks for sharing with the forum members. perhaps i missed it somewhere in the following thread....but (question)-- how were you so lucky to obtain such a complete WW2 USMC grouping? was the veteran a relative, friend, neighbor, etc.? Actually there is more to come! Just intense research and experience doing this kind of research. And most of all, LUCK!!!! All honors to the Biggest Brother who passed away on January 2nd, Major Dick Winters of BOB! He was a great man and a gentle soul. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmethead Posted January 18, 2011 Share #39 Posted January 18, 2011 Very nice grouping Mike, something special to treasure. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share #40 Posted January 18, 2011 Thanks again guys! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share #41 Posted January 18, 2011 Another fantastic grouping Mike...I am glad you can share this with all the kids at school. Who knows how many might take up the hobby because of your display. thanks my friend! The grouping will also be part of a pacific exhibit this late Spring and Summer. I hope to get a good many military folks from Fort Bragg area. It is a great way to remember the vets! Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooseandspoons Posted January 18, 2011 Share #42 Posted January 18, 2011 this is truely one awesome group!!! I told my wife she should get me a M1 like that and she just laughed at me :crybaby: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted January 18, 2011 Share #43 Posted January 18, 2011 Thats a very important helmet , look after it well !! owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share #44 Posted January 19, 2011 this is truely one awesome group!!! I told my wife she should get me a M1 like that and she just laughed at me :crybaby: Hey GooseandSpoons, I would never ask my wife to buy me one! She hates them and wants me to sell them all!! Some of the collectors on this site have been the new owners of a few of my dear helmets! I've started hiding them in my office! Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share #45 Posted January 19, 2011 Thats a very important helmet , look after it well !!owen Thanks my friend! It is the helmet that is always most important to me! Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlight Gecko Posted January 19, 2011 Share #46 Posted January 19, 2011 Amazing grouping. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason4473 Posted January 19, 2011 Share #47 Posted January 19, 2011 congrats! the grouping is amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share #48 Posted January 20, 2011 thanks Jason and friends. Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squad leader Posted January 22, 2011 Share #49 Posted January 22, 2011 Wow !!! Awesome grouping and well documented. :jeal0001: Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theorywolf Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share #50 Posted January 23, 2011 Thanks Dan! I will keep you posted as other parts of the grouping come in! Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now