WORLD WAR II GYRENE PHOTO ALBUM

Page 21

(above) PhM3/c Danny Thomas in October 1944—Halekala Volcano, Camp Maui, Hawaii

The following pictures are courtesy of Navy Corpsman Danny Thomas, of Irving, Texas. He served with 2/23, 4th MarDiv, in World War II. After the war, he went to college on the GI Bill and became a pharmacist. He was recalled to active duty for the Korean War. I received the following in an e-mail from Doc Thomas:

"In 1943 I joined the Navy to keep out of the infantry in the Army. Then became striker for Hospital Corps thinking I'd always have a warm bed and plenty to eat. Lo and bedang hold in less than a year's time in was with the FMF, the infantry of the Marine Corps, getting ready to go to Iwo Jima. Landed there second wave D-Day and stayed until Island declared secured on March 16th. I was with with F/2/23. Of the 35 Corpsmen who landed on Iwo, 13 of us walked off. Seven were KIA. I was the only Corpsman who walked off without a purple heart. I did get off with my butt intact — for which I'm eternally grateful. Iwo Jima was my only combat. (I'm not complainin'. That was enough for me.)"

 

Doc Thomas sent me the following information about his pictures: Most of these pictures were taken by a fellow Corpsman named A J Zimmerman, PHm2c, (at left) a really great person. As a matter of fact, we were not supposed to take pictures inside the camp: nor keep a diary, although a few guys did both.(Contraband stuff like this was kept rolled up in the tent flap, in case of surprise inspection of quarters.) Soon after WW2,  Zimmy sent me a large packet of over 100 b/w negatives which got placed in my gyrene seabag, stored in the attic and forgotten about. At that time my only income was $65/month on GI Bill, which barely  paid room and board. (glad to get it though). About 30 years later I found the negatives when I was cleaning the attic, had pictures made and later sent a copy to several of the gyrenes to I.D. the jarheads. The Corpsmen I could recognize blindfolded almost. It is strange how I could recognize  some guys "just by their shape & silhouette" without seeing the face.

(above) Danny Thomas (left) with A. J. Zimmerman, July 1945—Camp Maui. Hawaii, after the honors parade for Iwo Jima. Danny received the Bronze Star for his actions on Iwo.

(above) Navy Corpsmen, 2/23—October 1944, in front of the Battalion Aid Station, Camp Maui, Hawaii.

(above) Surviving Corpsmen of 2/23 at Camp Maui after Iwo Jima—1945.

(above) Marines of 2/23 standing by for shots prior to mounting our for Iwo Jima—October 1944, Camp Maui, Hawaii.

(left) Camp Maui, Hawaii. View up the company street for Easy Co, 2nd Bn, 23rd Marines. Rows of pyramidal tents stretch into the distance.Each tent typically housed one squad of Marines. Camp Maui was the operating base for the 4th MarDiv between its campaigns in 1944–45.

(above) Sgt Joe Kennedy (left) and Cpl W. A. Downs, (right), E 2/23, eating chow in the field —Camp Maui, autumn 1944. Behind them is the company jeep and trailer.

Click on the 4th MarDiv patch or HERE to learn
more about this outfit in World War II

PHOTO ALBUM INDEX PAGE

WORLD WAR II GYRENE HOME