Merrill's Marauders OKd for Congressional Gold Medal-- Part 3: Quite the Story

Often outnumbered, they successfully fought Japanese troops in five major engagements, plus 30 minor ones, between February and August 1944.

Marauders spent most days cutting their way through dense jungle, with only mules to help carry equipment and provisions.  They slept on the ground, and rarely changed clothes.  Supplies dropped from planes were their only means of replenishing rations and ammunition.  Malnutrition and the wet climates left the soldiers vulnerable to malaria, dysentery and other diseases.

"These guys were subsisting on one K-ration per man, per day," said Christopher Goodrow, arms curator for the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia.  "You're talking about a can of tuna, some crackers, a chocolate bar and cigarettes."

At neighboring Fort Benning, the elite fighters of the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment consider themselves proud descendants of Merrill's Marauders, who are revered for their overall toughness.

--GreGen

Holocaust Survivors Get COVID-19 Vaccine in Austria and Slovakia

From the Jan. 28, 2021, Chicago Tribune by Kirsten Grieshaber and Philipp Jenne.

Hundreds of Holocaust survivors in Austria and Slovakia got their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine Wednesday, an acknowledgement of past suffering and a tribute to resilience 76 years after Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

More than 400 Austrian survivors, most in their 80s or 90s, were expected to get shots in Vienna.  Some were brought by shuttle or by ambulance, while others were accompanied by their children.  The fittest among them took the subway.

This was set up by the Jewish community of Vienna, the Austrian Health Ministry and the City of Vienna.  Twelve Jewish doctors volunteered to administer the shots.

Earlier this week, the president of the European Jewish Congress called onall countries in the European Union to ensure that Holocaust survivors have access to coronavirus vaccines as quickly as possible.

--GreGen

Philip Kahn, 100, Dies from COVID-19. His Twin Brother Died in the 1918 Pandemic

Philip Kahn of New York died April 17 of the coronavirus.  His twin brother, Samuel, died in the 1918 Pandemic.

The story is in today's Cooter's History Thing blog.  Go to the My Blogs column to the right of this and click on that blog.

--GreGen

How Well Do You Know Your WW II Slang-- Part 5: What Was a Pecker Checker?

16.  WHAT WAS A POSTER OF A SEXY MOVIE STAR IN A SWIMSUIT CALLED?   Pin-Up.  Some of the more famous ones were Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Betty Grable.

17.  A PECKER CHECKER CHECKED SOLDIERS FOR WHAT?  Venereal Diseases.  Done by a doctor or medical assistant.  Also known as a Pricksmith.

18.  WHAT WAS R&R?     Rest and Relaxation.  Also known as Rest and Rotation.

Lookin' For A Little R&R Myself.  --GreGen

Philadelphia's Last Remaining Pearl Harbor Survivor

From the May 27, 2016, CBS Philly "Philadelphia's Last Remaining Pearl Harbor Survivor Remembers December 7, 1941" by Kristen Johanson.

Alex Horzany is now 94.

He was in the 42nd Infantry Division and remembers "I was sleeping" when the attack began.  He later fought in New Guinea where he contracted malaria.

--GreGen

Follow Up on USS Perch and Mankassar Prison Camp

You can see Ernie Ernie Plantz talking about his experiences on You Tube.

Four of the 5 Perch crew members who died at Mankassar Prison Camp are listed on the complete list of American deaths there.

All 600+ survivors of the HMS Exeter were taken there and then senior officers sent on to Japan.

Mankassar Prison Camp is now known as Ujunpandan Celebes (Sulawesi).

The first inmates of the camp were members of the KNIL, the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army after the fall of the Dutch East Indies to the Japanese.

Three of the USS Perch crew died of pellagra.  Pellagra is a vitamin deficiency disease caused by a chronic lack of niacin.  One result of it is skin lesions.

--GreGen