Marines Make New IDs for Iwo Jima Flag Raisers-- Part 4: Correcting the Identities

Two amateur historians raised questions about the identities and then a Marine panel found that a flag raiser thought to be Navy Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class John Bradley was actually Pfc. Harold Schultz, of Detroit.   Bradley had helped in an earlier flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi, and his role took on a greater significance after his son, James Bradley, wrote a best-selling book about the flag raisers, "Flags of Our Fathers" that was made into a movie by Clint Eastwood.

The latest identification question was raised by historians Stephen Foley, Dustin Spence and Brent Westemeyer.  Their findings were confirmed by a Marine board and was aided by FBI investigators.  Foley was also one of the historians who noted the previous mistaken identity.

Getting to the Bottom of It.  --GreGen

Marines Correct Iwo Jima Flag-Raising Participants-- Part 3: Get Their Names!

The Battle of Iwo Jima began February 19, 1945, and lasted 36 days with about 70,000 Marines fighting 18,000 Japanese soldiers.  More than 6,500 U.S. service men died and about 20,000 were wounded in the battle on the small island which is 660 miles south of Tokyo and is now officially called Iwo To.  Most all of the Japanese soldiers died.

Joe Rosenthal shot the photo on February 23, 1945,  Unfortunately, he didn't get the men's names, but after the photo was released and became famous, President Roosevelt told the military to identify the flag raisers.

The Marines identified the men as Harlon Block, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Franklin Soulsey and Michael Strank.  All were Marines except for Bradley, who was a Navy corpsman.

--GreGen

Marines Correct 2nd ID in Iconic Iwo Jima Photo-- Part 2: A Silent Hero

The newly identified Marine in the photo, Corporal Harold P. Keller, died in 1979, in Grinnel, Iowa.

NBC interviewed his daughter, Kay Maurer, 70, of Brooklyn, Iowa.  She said that her father kept a framed Rosenthal phot showing 18 Marines on the summit of Mount Suribachi with the flag in the background, but he never mentioned his role in the historic event.

"He never spoke about any of this when we were growing up, she said.  "We knew he fought in the war.  We knew he was wounded in the shoulder at one point.  But he didn't tell us he helped raise the flag on Mount Suribachi."

--GreGen

Marines Correct 2nd ID in Iconic Iwo Jima Photo-- Part 1

From the October 20, 2019, by Scott McFetridge, AP.

The correct identity of a second man in that famous flag raising scene at Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi has been released by the USMC.  One of the men was not Pfc. Rene Cagnon as previously believed, but Cpl. Harold B. Keller.  It also noted, however, that Gagnon  did help obtain the flag.

Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal shot the image during the 1945 battle between American and Japanese forces on Iwo Jima.

"Regardless of who was in the photograph, each and every Marine who set foot on Iwo Jima, or supported the effort from the sea and air around the island is, and always will be, a part of our Corps' cherished history," the Marines said in the statement.

In 2016, the Marines corrected the identity of another man in the photograph after historians raised questions.

--GreGen

AP Photo Deal With Nazis-- Part 2

Photographs of Nazis would be credited to AP, Associated Press."  They would also appear in German newspapers.

That would include:

**  One of Hitler shaking Mussolini's hand shortly after an assassination attempt in 1944.

**  Hitler drawing on a map.

**  Hitler chatting with a blinded soldier

**  Adolf Hitler shaking hands with a Hitler Youth soldier.

Distributed captions to the photos would not give credit  to Nazi or SS photographers

At least 10,000 photos went back and forth under the agreement.

--GreGen

AP Photo Deal With the Nazis Under Fire-- Part 1

From the May 14, 2017, Chicago Tribune "WW II photo deal with Nazis under fire" by Michael S. Rosenwald.

At the height of World War II, the Associated Press made secret arrangements with an SS officer to obtain pictures taken by Nazi photographers that were distributed to U.S. newspapers.  This deal was authorized by senior U.S. officials.

This is detailed by a recently released report by AP.  It was part of a deal where  the U.S.and Germany shared pictures of each other.   U.S. counterintelligence found definite proof that the Associated Press was engaged in operations that went against the "Trading With the Enemy Act."

As a result of the agreement, the June 30, 1942, Washington Post had a photo of Hitler shaking hands with ex-German officials, including one wearing a Nazi navy uniform.

--GreGen

LST-325-- Part 6: We Visited It in Dubuque, Iowa

I have been on the 325 in Evansville, but was excited to see that it was going to be nearer to home, and would be there while my wife Liz and I were on our 45th wedding anniversary in nearby Galena.  We got a room in Dubuque, Iowa, by where the ship was docked and enjoyed talking with the crew that night after it closed to visitors.

And, they had really long lines waiting to board on both the Saturday we arrived and on Sunday.  Something I was happy to see.  There were quite a few veterans and even some World War II ones who were given VIP treatment.

Tours were held from 11 am to 6 pm Thursday to Monday, August 27.  Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 17.  Children 5 and younger and World War II veterans get in free.

Well Worth the Experience.  --GreGen

LST-325-- Part 5: Lousy Gas Mileage

One drawback of LSTs however is that they are not fuel-efficient.  The diesel powered ship burns through more than six gallons of gas for every mile it travels.

Every penny earned by the nonprofit group running the ship from ticket sales and sales from the gift shop is used to keep the tanks full and engine running.

But, it's time and money well spent.

"We've been doing this since 2004," according to John Tallent.  "We've served over 450,000 visitors in that time frame.  Typically, we're underway going on a tour of cities three or four weeks a year.  In that time span, we'll see on average 33,000 visitors."

The ship is home-based in Evansville, Indiana, on the Ohio River when not on tour.

--GreGen

LST-325-- Part 4: U.S. Navy, Then It Was All Greek to Me

LST-325 broke in with the U.S, Navy, where it deployed to North Africa and was at Omaha Beach on D-Day.

But, from 1963 to 1999 the ship was in the Greek Navy  and named the RHS Syros, before it was bought by the Evansville, Indiana, non-profit.  Traces of its time in the Greek Navy can be found throughout the ship today.  Greek lettering is still on its bow and other places in the ship.

OPERATING IN A WAR ZONE

LSTs had to beach themselves to be effective disgorging its cargo, a traditional move to deep water wasn't an option.  The ship relied on a 3,000 pound anchor to help pull it out to sea.  Before making landfall, the anchor would be dropped.

Then a steel cable attached to the anchor would spool out as the LST made its final approach.  After it landed its cargo, the ship would then winch itself off the beach.

John Tallent said:  "It takes a lot to surprise me, but I'm consistently amazed at the ingenuity that went into these things."

--GreGen

LST-325-- Part 3: LSTs "Large, Slow-moving Targets"

The most unique feature of the LSTs is also what made them one of the least-desirable postings in the U.S. Navy.  Their flat, keel-less bottoms made for a bumpy ride.

"It was like riding a bathtub in a typhoon," said John Tallent, who served on an LST during the Vietnam War.

World War II veteran Jack Stephenson said he "never met anybody that was on an LST that enjoyed it."

"No. no, no, no," he said when asked if he ever served on one.  "This was the worst duty in the Navy.  I was on a destroyer escort in the Pacific.  We ran rings around these things."

But the wide-open, flat design made the slow-moving ships extremely utilitarian.

"(They could transport) trucks, guns, ammunition, gasoline, anything,"  Stevenson said.

As a matter of fact, LSTs were generally referred to as "Large, Slow-moving Targets" by its crews.

--GreGen

LST-325-- Part 2: An LST Veteran On This Ship

John Tallent and his team of 50 crew members -- most of them former military and all of them volunteers --  will spend the rest of the week docked in the Port of Dubuque.  The public isinvited to come tour the floating museum before it continues its journey down the Mississippi River and then the Ohio River to its home port in Evansville, Indiana.

Irwin Kuhns "came up from the hills" when he answered the call for service at the age of 17.  He said he "didn't even know what a ship was" before he was deployed to the South Pacific theater in an LST during World War II.

He learned soon enough.

"It was all new," said Kuhns, who is helping with the crew of the LST-325 on its Mississippi voyage.  Back during WW II, he said:  "And I'm an eager-beaver guy.  I just wanted  to know anything and everything."

Kuhns became a coxswain and was tasked with piloting Higgins boats, or landing craft attached to the LSTs.  He made a lot of supply runs and completed whatever errands were necessary.

"I'd run all over the place.  I had more time in the Higgins boat than anybody aboard the ship.

--GreGen

LST-325: Ship's Brilliance on Display in Dubuque-- Part 1: Charged Head First Onto Enemy Beaches

From the April 23, 2018, Dubuque (Iowa) Tlegraph Herald by Ben Jacobson.

Vessel's versatilty addressed urgent needs during World War II.John Tallent believes the simplicity of the USS LST-325 belies the ship's brilliance.

Only a few short years separated the conception and completion and these landing ships were deployed by the U.S. en masse on multiple fronts during the war.  LSTs charged head first onto beaches with troops, trucks, tanks  sewing forth from them from a gaping hatch in the ship's bow.

The the coming war, there were no bureaucratic minutiae or subcommittee meetings to bog down innovation.  According to Tallent, there was just a need and an urgency to address needs.

"The solutions we came up with, we, the American people, to hellacious problems ... it just boggles the mind," said Tallent, president of the non-profit USS LST Ship Memorial and the deck officer of the ship's current voyage.

--GreGen

George Halas in World War II

George Halas entered the Navy again in 1942,serving as a lieutenant commander where he served overseas for twenty months under the command of Admiral Chester Nimitz.  His duties were supporting the welfare and recreational activities of the Seventh Fleet.

During this time he was awarded a Bronze Star and was released from duty in 1946 with the rank of captain.

He began coaching the Chicago Bears again and that same year met with Army Chief of Staff Dwight D. Eisenhower and Navy Chief of Staff , Admiral Chester Nimitz and Air Force Chief of Staff General Carl Spaatz and offered to set up an annual  charity football game with the Bears as hosts.  Proceeds would go to  armed forces relief agencies.

By mid-1957, proceeds from the game were $438,350.76.

George Halas in the World Wars: Nearly On the SS Eastland and 1919 Rose Bowl MVP

From Wikipedia.

"Papa Bear" George Halas was not just in World War II, but also World War I.

He was founder, player and owner of The Chicago Bears as well as a founder of the NFL.  He was also a member of the first 17 inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Born in Chicago on February 2, 1895, and a very good athlete at several sports.

In 1915 he was working part time at Western Electric in Chicago when he was late for an ill-fated boat trip on the SS Eastland when it capsized killing 844 passengers in the Chicago River.  (I have written about this often in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

He graduated from Crane High School in Chicago then went to the University of Illinois where he played football, basketball and baseball.

During World War I, he was an ensign in the U.S,. Navy and played for the team at Great Lakes  Naval Training Station in North Chicago and was named MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl.  (That is correct.)  At that game, he scored a receiving TD and had a 77-yard pass interception as Great Lakes defeated the Mare Island Marines of California.

--GreGen

1942: Halas Goes to War, Da Bears Go On Streak-- Part 2

So, in the span of six games after George Halas left for the Navy, the Bears defense allowed seven points in six games and scored three touchdowns.

It was all part of the most glorious run in Bears history:  26 victories in 27 games in 1940-1942, with six shutouts and an average scoring margin of 37-11 -- including NFL Championship Game victories  against the Redskins in 1940 (73-0) and the Giants in 1941  (37-9).

The unbeaten Chicago Bears in 1942 were upset  by the Redskins 14-6 in the championship.

But the Bears responded by winning the NFL title in 1943 under Luke Johnsos and Hunk Anderson, beating the Redskins 41-21 for their third title in four seasons.

Truly, the Monsters of the Midway Back Then.  Not Now, Of Course.   --GreGen

1942: George Halas Goes Off to War and the Bears Go On Defense and Winning Streak-- Part 1

From the November 16, 2019, Chicago Sun-Times.

I have been writing about the Chicago Bears in my Cooter's History Thing blog earlier this month.

When founder and coach George Halas left the undefeated Chicago Bears to serve in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander in the middle of the 1942 season, the Bears responded with one of the great defensive runs of all time in the NFL.

They shut out the winless Detroit Lions 16-0 in their first game without Halas, then beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 42-0 in Brooklyn the next week.

They nearly had a third consecutive shutout when they were leading the rival Packers 38-0 late in the fourth quarter at Wrigley Field -- until Cecil Isbell threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Don Hutson late in the final quarter.

But the Bears kept on going.  They beat the Lions 42-0 (with 12 takeaways), the Rams 47-0 and they did not allow a offensive touchdown in a 21-7 victory against the rival Cardinals to complete an 11-0 season.  The Cardinals scored off a fumkble on an aborted Bears punt in the waning moments.

--GreGen

Raymond Barker, USMC-- Part 4: His Family Was Devastated By the News

Raymond's family was devastated by the news.  A relative remarked:  "Even the slightest mention of his name  would cause a cascade of tears.  There simply was too much grief over his death."

After Raymond's mother received the news, she hung a gold star on her front door, signifying that  the family had lost someone in the war.

Ray had a sweetheart before he left for the war and most of his family believe he would have married her.

--GreGen

Raymond Barker USMC-- Part 3: From MIA to KIA

On D-Day at Tarawa, November 20, 1943, Corporal Barker was reported MIA and a few weeks after the island was secured, , his status was changed to presumed Killed In Action.  His body has never been  recovered.  He is one of eight men of Charlie Company who were listed as MIA at the Battle of Betio.

In his last letter home, dated November 1, he told of his frequent moves across the islands of the Pacific  and predicted an upcoming assault soon but had no premonition of death.

His parents didn't find out for two months after the battle.

On 9 March 1944, the bad news came in the form of a telegram:

"Cpl. Barker was listed as missing after the attack November 20 on Tarawa atoll in the Gilbert Islands.  However, Tarawa has now been fully occupied by American forces for 3 months, and it must necessarily be concluded that he lost his life in action."

--GreGen

Raymond Barker at the Battle of Tarawa-- Part 1: His Tank Hit

When the Battle of Tarawa started  on the morning of November 20, 1943, Corporal Barker and his tank were transferred from the USS Ashland to an LCM that carried them across Tarawa's lagoon.  When the LCM grounded on the reef off Red Beach 3, the tank and its crew splashed into the water.

Barker followed his original orders and drove his tank  through the chaotic area going southbound.  Soon after crossing the taxi strip, his tank was targeted by a Japanese 75 mm anti-aircraft gun.  It was struck and the concussion of the shells caused an electrical malfunction and a red warning light lit up on the dashboard indicating that the engine was burning.

Joe Woolum, one of the tank's crew, remembered,  "Barker, our driver, said 'We're on fire.' "  The tank commander ordered the  crew  to exit the tank.

Barker's tank was photographed after the battle and shows that the gun tube's position prevented the driver's hatch from opening.  This left him two choices to get out:  the assistant driver's hatch or the emergency hatch, located behind the driver's seat.

Raymond Barker was probably the last man to leave the tank.

Corporal Barker apparently made it out, but his body was never recovered.

--GreGen

Raymond Barker in High School and Enlists in the Marines

Raymond Barker was very smart and went to Lane Tech High School in Chicago where you had to be in the top 10% of your graduating class from primary school.  At the time it was only open to males.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Chicago on 5 October 1942 and attended tank school and obtained the rank of Private First Class.  Afterwards, he was sent to Camp Pendleton in California for advanced tank training and became a tank driver in C Company, 1st Corps Tank Battalion (Medium).  Later he attended Camp Eliot where he attended diesel school and attained the rank of corporal.

During training, he kept up correspondence with his family, and his sweetheart back in Wisconsin.

--GreGen

At Home With Corporal Barker

From the Tanks on Tarawa site.  "Cpl. Raymond Arthur Barker  #480082  3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Corps Medium Tank Battalion.

Reported as Missing In Action 11/20/43

Corporal Barker was about to turn 23 when he took part in the terrible Battle of Tarawa

Raymond Barker was born on December 20, 1920 in Walworth County, Wisconsin.  His father, Harley C. Barker was a farmer in those days and his mother, Hazel B. Barker, was a farmer's wife.  This according to Philip Wright, Raymond Barker's nephew.  "She always arose at 4:30 in the morning and began to cook."  That's what farmers' wives did  in the traditional US farm life for many generations.

Their living conditions were good, remembers Philip, who met Raymond  but was too young to remember him.  Philip lived with Raymond's parents during four years after the war and shared in their life."I can still remember awakening in the morning to the wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen."

--GreGen

Corp. Raymond Arthur Barker, USMC-- Part 2

There is a second Find-A-Grave account of him, this one put out by the organization that identified his remains, Defense  POW/MIA Accounting Agency.  A tip of the hat to them for this effort.

October 17, 2017

Marine Corps Reserve Cpl. Raymond A. Barker, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.

In November 1943, Barker was assigned to Company C, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island.

Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 wounded, but the Japanese were virtually annihilated.  Barker died on the first day of the battle.

Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.

DPAA Is grateful to History Flight, for their partnership in the mission.

Barker's name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the NCMP, an American Battle Monuments Commission cemetery, along with others killed or lost in WW II.  A rosette will be placed next to his name  to indicate he has been accounted for.

This one, however, has him incorrectly buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

--GreGen

Corp. Raymond Arthur Barker, USMC-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave

CPL Raymond Arthur Barker

Born:  20 Dec. 1920, Delavan, Wis.
Death: 20 Nov. 1943, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati

Burial:  Spring Grove Cemetery, Delavan, Wis.  Lot B, Block 5, Section 0

A rather tall man at 6'4".

Corp. Ray Barker Killed in Action.

Delavan--  Corp. Raymond Barker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harley Barker, former residents here, was killed in action at Tarawa, Nov. 20, according to information just recently received by his parents from the war department.  Corp. Barker had previously been reported missing.

He participated in the Battle of Tarawa as a raider in a medium tank battalion.

Born Dec. 20, 1920, at the Barker farm home, near Delavan, Barker left here during his early youth with his parents, who moved to Evanston, Illinois.  Surviving besides his parents, are two sisters, Mrs S.H. Wright, Chicago, and Mrs. J.A. Gibas, Denver, and a brother , ElbridgeS. Barker, Chicago.

Cpl. Barker has a cenotaph  in the Honolulu Memorial.  A cenotaph is a structure erected in honor of someone whose remains are elsewhere.

--GreGen

Spring Grove Cemetery in Delavan, Wisconsin: His Parents and Older Brother Buried There

In the last post, I mentioned that Corp. Raymond Barker (USMC) was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, but the article did not say where that cemetery was.  We live in Spring Grove, Illinois, around 40 miles from Delavan, so possibly he was buried here.

But, using Find-A-Grave, I found Spring Grove Cemetery in Delavan, Wisconsin.

Raymond's father, HarleyClaude Barker (1882-1959) is buried there as is his wife, Hazel (unknown-1971) and older brother Elbridge Barker (Unknown-1979).  Older sister, Velma B. Barker Gibas (1910-2002) is buried in Denver, Colorado.

--GreGen

Homecoming: Cpl. Raymond Barker (USMC) Comes Home to Delavan, Wisconsin, After 75 Years

From the May 16, 2019, Hi-Liter "Homecoming:  World War II soldier returned to Delavan, Wisconsin, for burial 75 years after death" by Vicky Wedig.

Raymond Barker was just 22-years-old when he left for war in 1943 as a U.S. Marine.

He was from Delavan and listed as missing in action in 1943, but DNA analysis had identified his remains which arrived in Milwaukee and went hearse from Delavan overpasses were decorated welcoming him home.    The Patriot Guard Riders accompanied them.

Service was held at Betzer Funeral Home and entire schools turned out.  Family members from all over the United States came.

Hazel Barker never knew what happened to her son and she never got over it.  For many years the family believed that his tank sank in the Pacific Ocean without making it to shore.  Research showed Barker's tank had made it to shore and an interview with Joe Woolum, who was sitting next to Barker in the tank in the battle and found out the crew had to abandon the tank and few made it back to shore.

The Barkers were told only that their son was missing in action and a star hung on their front door symbolizing a MIA soldier.  When his parents died, that MIA Star was placed next to their grave.  On May 5, 2019, the body of their son replaced that star.

He was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery where he is buried next to his parents.

I wish the article had said what battle Corp. Barker died at (probably Tarawa) or where Spring Grove Cemetery was.  (Possibly Spring Grove Cemetery in Spring Grove, Illinois?)

Welcome Home, Corporal.  --GreGen

Early Prep for Victory Gardens in Sycamore in 1944

From the March 13, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"In carrying out the Victory Garden program that has been publicized much of late, many stores in Sycamore have put out seed cases for spring, and  already some people have made purchase of vegetable seeds for the '44 Victory garden."

Growing Food For Victory.   --GreGen

9th Year, 3,574th Post for This Blog

Today marks the ninth year of this blog which I started in 2012 during the 70th anniversary of it.  I have always been interested in Pearl Harbor, which is my biggest posting in labels.  With us losing so many World War II veterans every day and the fact that so much of my regular history blog, Cooter's History Thing, was becoming about the war, it seemed only natural to start this one.

The sign off name, GreGen stands for Greatest Generation, which they, in my opinion, definitely are.

Growing up, I was born in 1951, the World War II veterans were always around.  Never thought about getting to the point where they are so rare.  But, time goes on.

--GreGen