American Sailors and United States Marines at War and Peace
Navy Sea Stories and Marine Corps Legacies
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"So on Tuesday Nov. 4th I was at one of these places standing in a chow line when an incident took place that remains etched in my mind. I felt Mother Nature’s call. I handed my mess gear to a fellow Marine and asked him to hold my place in line, so I could make a head call. I walked across a MSR (main supply road) and climbed up a hill to a small enclosure we called a head that was sand bagged on three sides. I was in a position to be able to look down the hill at the chow line. I heard a tank coming around a hill on the MSR to my right, or east, and watched it continue onto the chow line, turned off the road, and came to a stop close to the Marines. The top hatch came open and a black Marine appeared. He was talking to the guys. There must have been an enemy FO (Forward Observer) out there some place that could see some part of that road. He must have had a good idea where that tank was located. When the first of three rounds came in falling on my left, or west, I reacted and was running north down the hill toward the chow line pulling my pants up. The next one hit some distance east of me. The third round followed hitting the chow line I was running toward. Bodies flew stopping me in short order. I had been standing there in that chow line not more than ten minutes ago! For some reason the third round was all that fell in the area. As I was getting my pants buttoned up and belt buckled my bunker mate, Carvel Legurski, a 25th drafter appeared and began working with the wounded, and some Corpsmen showed up with their equipment." - from REFLECTIONS - 1952 By Howard Frasier
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About the Book
From World War II through Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, American Sailors and United States Marines at War and Peace: Navy Sea Stories and Marine Corps Legends tells exciting stories of a sailor's and a Marine's life at sea during war and peace. Compiled from the experiences of author Donald Johnson and other American sailors and United States Marines, the book delivers a fascinating glimpse into the everyday exploits of men at war and sea. Johnson includes riveting accounts of battles in the Pacific such as Wake Island and Battle of Bunker Hill in Korea. There are personal experiences from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Patriotic stories, stories about Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, and tributes are also included. With such adventures as the aftermath of the Battle of Iwo Jima as seen through the eyes of a small boat operator and Operation Desert Storm as told to the author by his sister, who was a combat stevedore. American Sailors and United States Marines at War and Peace demonstrates the rigors of war as experienced by both sailors and Marines and the humor that goes on during war and during peacetime at sea.
About the Author
Donald Johnson retired from the Navy nearly 19 years ago and has written and published four books, two of which are Navy non-fiction books that include short stories of Navy living and events. Those books are "It Wasn't Just a Job; It Was an Adventure" and "American Sailor". This book includes stories about Marines. This will be his last book in this area. Donald is the pastor of Buena Vista Community Church near Independence, Oregon. He is married with four grown daughters and eight grandchildren.