THE WORLD WAR II GYRENE PHOTO ALBUM
Page 2
The photos on this page are all courtesy of a great Marine, Les Groshong. Les enlisted in the Marine Corps reserve in 1939 and was mobilized 'for the duration" in 1940. He served in three campaigns with the 2nd Marine Division–Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan.
Les was assigned to Co. M, 6th Marines in 1940-41. He then attended Radio School, and was assigned to HQ Co, 3/8. he went to American Samoa with the 8th Marines. Les served with 3/8 until he was wounded by a Japanese mortar round on 15 June 1944. After his recovery, les was assigned to the Guard Co, MCB, San Diego. The photo at left shows Les home on leave in late 1944. he was discharged from the Corps in September 1945.
The pictures below show the pre–war Marine Corps before it disappeared in the giant expansion for World War II. At this time, MCB, San Diego was the major west coast Marine base. Les was assigned there with the 6th Marines before that regiment deployed to Iceland in July, 1941.
(above) Les took this photo in early 1941 from his barracks window at MCB, San Diego. It shows the east side of the parade deck looking north. One of the machine gun platoons of Co. M, 3/6 has its M1917A1 machine gun carts set-up on the parade deck. Les' barracks later became the Receiving Barracks, MCRD, where generations of Marines began their careers in the Corps.
(above) This is another photo of MCB, San Diego in early 1941 that Les took
from his barracks window. This photo shows the parade deck looking north–
west toward San Diego Bay.
(above) Marines of Anti–Aircraft Platoon, Co. M 3/6 with their
.50 cal watercooled machine guns set–up on the parade deck at
MCB, San Diego–early 1941.
(above) M2A4 light tanks on the parade deck at MCB, San Diego–
early 1941. This is probaly the 4th Tank Co., which was later redesignated Co. A 2nd Tank Battalion in May 1941. This picture was taken on the south end of the parade deck looking northeast.
On 26 February 1941, big band leader Kay Kyser and his College of Musical Knowledge came to MCB, San Diego for a concert at the base theater. The band also spent a day at the base visiting the Marines. The following photos are from that day of "musical education" from the "Ol' Professor of Swing," as Kay was known. The following three pictures were publicity photos from that day.
(above) The Ol' Professor clowning with Sea School Marines
(above) Ginny Simms, lead vocalist of the College of Musical
Knowledge, singing in the base theater.
(above) The Ol' Professor doing some close order
drill with a platoon of Marines.
(above) Les' ticket to the concert at the base theater,
26 February 1941
(above) Radio School, MCB, San Diego–Fall 1941. The left photo shows Les (l)& his buddy, Bob Thomas(r) posing with their rifles at order arms. The right photo shows William Weber(l) & Bob Thomas(r) polishing up on their bayonet drill.
The phrase "Every Marine a Riflman" is no idle boast. The Corps
has always placed a huge emphasis on marksmanship. Les took the following pictures in 1940 when his unit, Co. M, 6th Marines,
rotated through Camp Matthews for annual qualification.
(above) Marines of Co. M 3/6 at the KD range at Camp Matthews in
1940. Camp Matthews was utilized for marksmanship activities by
San Diego–based Marine units from 1918–1964. During World War II,
up to 9,000 Marine recruits were shuttled through the camp's range complexes every three weeks.
(above) Cantonement area at Camp Matthews–early 1940. Marines at this time were billeted in small wall tents during range activities. There were no range facilities aboard MCB, San Diego, so units stationed there rotated through Camp Matthews for qualification.
(above) Co. M 3/6 at the Camp Matthews. This is probably KD Range #1.
More to come–Semper Fi, mac!
PHOTO ALBUM PAGE 3
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