|
|---|
|
WORLD WAR II GYRENE PHOTO ALBUM page 30
In May 1943 the 25th Marine Regiment was activated at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Dewey received a transfer to Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. The regiment sailed aboard ship through the Panama Canal to California and arrived at Camp Pendleton in September 1943. On arrival, Dewey and his buddies were billeted in one of the giant tent camps that dotted the post. Early in January 1944 the Fourth Marine Division combat loaded ships at San Diego and sailed for the central Pacific and Operation Flintlock, the assault on the Marshall Islands. Dewey took part in the capture of Roi-Namur at the northern end of Kwajalein Atoll in January 1944. 1/25 had the distinction of being the first American troops to land on an enemy-held in the Marshalls at 0958 on 31 Jan 1944. Once Roi-Naumr was declared secure, the Fighting Fourth sailed on transports to Camp Maui, Hawaii.
After an intensive period of training on the island of Maui, the Fourth received its next assignment as part of the forces in Operation Forager, the assault on the Marianas. The first objective was the island of Saipan and D-Day was set for 15 June 1944. Under extremely heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, 1/25 landed on Yellow Beaches 1 and 2 on the southern flank of the divisional beach head. On D-Day, despite taking a pounding from enemy fire, the 25th Marines advanced over 2,000 yards. So began 25 days of relentless combat on Saipan. On 4 July 1944 the 25th Marines was committed in the rugged terrain around Hill 767 on northern Saipan. Pfc Dewey Brown distinguished himself in this action, for which he would later receive the Silver Star Medal. By the time the island was fully secured on 9 July 1944, the Fourth Marine Division had endured 5,981 casualties — 27 percent of the division's strength.
No sooner was Saipan secured then the Fighting Fourth was assigned its next combat mission — the capture of Tinian. Seperated by only a few miles of water from Saipan, Tinian would be the first, and only, Corps shore-to-shore assault of World War II. The division's infantry regiments were seriously depleted from the tough fighting on Saipan, but J-Day for Tinian was set for 24 July 1944. The 25th Marines was assigned to land on Beach White 2 on J-Day. 1/25 landed by 0930 as regimental reserve. The entire area around White 2 had been methodically planted with mines by the Japanese, including numerous booby traps, antitanks and antipersonnel mines. Two pillboxes protected by rifle and machinegun pits had the beach covered by fire. These emplacements were bypassed by the first waves and had to be destroyed by follow-on waves. Afterward, over 50 dead Japanese troops were counted int he emplacement.
Resistance to the landing on Tinian was considered light by the standards of the Pacific War, but fifteen Marines died in combat on J-Day. Among them was Pfc Dewey Brown, who was struck and killed by a sniper's bullet. He was buried int he Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on Tinian and in 1949, was reinterred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. In 1946 Dewey's dad was presented his son's posthumous Silver Star in a ceremony at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Click HERE to download an PDF file of Pfc Brown's Silver Star citation. The following pictures are some that Dewey collected of him and his buddies during the war. They were conserved by his family and passed down to his nephew, John Morrow, who is also a Marine. Unless otherwise noted, the photos on this page are courtesy of John Morrow.
(1) Quote from The Fourth Marine Division in World War II by Carl Proehl, pg 17
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This site is owned & maintained by Mark Flowers, copyright 2004, all rights reserved.
|
Pfc Walter "Dewey" Brown was born in Philadelphia, Penna., and lived with his family at 2103 66th Avenue. Dewey played football and was on the gymnastics team for Germantown High School. He was also a golf caddy and went to work for Bendix he graduated from school. His dream was to become a metallurgist. In September 1942, Dewey joined the Marine Corps and went to boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina. He was then assigned to the Marine Barracks, Charleston, South Carolina. 
