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The 6th Radio Intelligence Platoon

Radio intelligence platoons were first established in World War II to provide tactical signal intelligence to Fleet Marine Force ground units in the Pacific theater. Although assigned to FMFPac, the RI platoons were attached to divisions and corps for tactical operations. Five RI platoons were activated during the war and all were disbanded after VJ Day.

Broadly, the RI platoon provided two distinct capabilities. First, it monitored enemy radio transmissions for battlefield intelligence. Second, the platoon had direction finding equipment to allow targeting by artillery and air assets.

The 6th RI platoon was activated at Camp Pendleton in late 1944 and shipped out to the Pacific the following spring. It was attached to the Vth Amphibious Corps for the Marianas campaign. Afterward, the platoon was attached to the Fleet Radio Unit, Pacific in Hawaii.

The pictures on this page were taken at Camp Pendleton before the 6th RI Platoon shipped out. They come from Burke O'Kelly of Hampton, VA. Burke served with the platoon in World War II from activation to disbandment. After the war, he went to work for NASA, where he retired after a long career. Burke and Mrs. O'Kelly are retired now.

Intercept Section
Back row, L–R: SSgt Lenny (platoon sergeant), Cpl McClung, Pfc Wallace, Cpl Lanier, SSgt Paustian 3rd row, L–R: Cpl Ellerman, Cpl Murphy, SSgt McCraig, Cpl Fawcett, Sgt Robinson, Cpl Conte, Cpl Croteau 2nd row, L–R: Sgt Roberts, unknown, Cpl Organ, Cpl Fields 1st row, L–R: Cpl Kohler, Cpl Prusso, Cpl Havilland, Cpl Cassidy

General Duty, Direction Finding, and Intercept Sections

Back row: SSgt Lenny Front row, L–R: Sgt Strelechi, Pfc Remek, Pfc Englund, Pfc Holiday, Cpl Winters, SSgt Paustian

Wire Section

Back row, L–R: SSgt Lenny, Cpl Ritter Front row, L–R: Pfc Heater, Cpl Reibschlager, Pfc Cathey, Pfc Malone, Cpl St Amand

Direction Finder and Control Section

Back row: SSgt Lenny 2nd row, L–R: Cpl Weinmuth, Pfc Perrin, Pfc Hotchkiss, Pfc Stover, Pfc Ralph, Pfc Mourning 1st row L–R: Pfc Thompson, Pfc Powell, Pfc Hoffman, Pfc Lorenz, Pfc Langlois Not present from DF Section: Pfc Anderson, Pfc Bassler, Pfc Plowman, Pfc O'Kelly

6th Radio Intelligence Platoon, FMFPac

Back row: L–R: Pfc Englund, Pfc Robinson, Pfc Torson, Pfc Heater, Pfc Stover , Cpl Murphy, Cpl Ellerman, Pfc Wallace, Cpl Field, Pfc Hotchkiss, Cpl Fawcett, Sgt Roberts, Cpl Weinmuth, Pfc Malone, unknown 3rd row, L–R: Cpl Ritter, unknown, Pfc Ralph, Pfc Cathey, SSgt McCraig, Lt Smith (platoon leader), SSgt Lenny (platoon sergeant), Cpl Lanier, Sgt Strelechi, Cpl Conte, Pfc Langlois, Pfc Holiday 2nd row, L–R: Pfc Kohler, Cpl Winters, Pfc Hoffman, Cpl Cassidy, Cpl McClung, Cpl St Amand, Cpl Havilland, SSgt Paustain, Cpl Organ, Cpl Croteau, Pfc Powell Front row, L–R: unknown, Pfc Perrin, Pfc Thompson, Pfc Remek, Pfc Mourning, Pfc Lorenz, Pfc Prusso Not present: Pfc Anderson, Pfc Bassler, Pfc Plowman, Pfc O'Kelly, Cpl Reibschlager

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