WW2 Marines - Pacific (1 Viewer)

[desk11desk12]

Something totally different from topic (sorry guys):


I found this picture and was struck by it. the caption reads:

"A Japanese lieutenant surrendered to the Marines so he could marry his Okinawa sweetheart. The Marines obliged with a wedding ceremony and the lieutenant debriefed on the Japanese defenses." (Courtesy of Eric Hammel)



Checkout the marine in the background with the accordion. Anyone else find this picture curious?

Carlos

 

[Stryker II]

Carlos: a curious photo indeed?

Its obviously taken after a surrender ceremony, but where? I suspect with the girl involved and no one seems to be armed, it was in Okinawa after the island was secured--or in post surrender Japan itself............Stryker

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Carlos: a curious photo indeed?

Its obviously taken after a surrender ceremony, but where? I suspect with the girl involved and no one seems to be armed, it was in Okinawa after the island was secured--or in post surrender Japan itself............Stryker

Good theory Stryker. Look at the pine trees in the photo. Location not on a tropical island. Possibly not even Okinawa which is pretty far south. And where would a Japanese officer be able to "surrender", brief the Americans on defenses, and also have a bide available. Highly unlikely during the fighting on Okinawa?

Terry

 

[tommy416]

Something totally different from topic (sorry guys):


I found this picture and was struck by it. the caption reads:

"A Japanese lieutenant surrendered to the Marines so he could marry his Okinawa sweetheart. The Marines obliged with a wedding ceremony and the lieutenant debriefed on the Japanese defenses." (Courtesy of Eric Hammel)

View attachment 32382

Checkout the marine in the background with the accordion. Anyone else find this picture curious?

Carlos

right over the sholder of the man walking behind the japanese officer you can see another marine in the distance in the trees

 

[Leadmen]

I believe the photo is on Okinawa. The climate is sub-tropical and can get cold. In my 14 months on or around Okinawa I see these rocky places and plenty of scrub and taller pine trees. I have some old pics somewhere where it shows the pine trees.

 

[jazzeum]

I found the following at Amazon regarding one of Mr. Hammel's books:

Eric Hammel is a well respected military historian and the author of thirty works of military history, including the critically acclaimed Pacific Warriors: The U.S. Marines in World War II: A Pictorial Tribute; Chosin; a multivolume history of Guadalcanal; The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17; and, with John E. Lane, Bloody Tarawa: The 2d Marine Division, November 20-23, 1943, also from Zenith Press. For Iwo Jima, Mr. Hammel sorted through hundreds of photos in Marine Corps archives to select the images needed to convey the battle to readers today. He lives in Northern California.

 

[Leadmen]

Okinawa. Scrubby pines.

 

[Leadmen]

Pictures are old but it might show the terrain. J Some armor and vehicles.

 

[Leadmen]

Last one. Okinawa- Northern part of the island.I am standing with M-1.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Carlos: a curious photo indeed?

Its obviously taken after a surrender ceremony, but where? I suspect with the girl involved and no one seems to be armed, it was in Okinawa after the island was secured--or in post surrender Japan itself............Stryker

Hard to believe something like that could happen by a Japanese officer, especially during the fighting. Leadmen's photos do show scrubby pines on Okinawa. It would be more believable if the fighting was over or mostly over, but still so unusual, no wonder it made it into a book. Wasn't Okinawa where civilians threw theselves off of cliffs into the ocean rather than accept being conquered by the Americans?

Terry

 

[Leadmen]

Saipan was where civilians jumped off the cliff's. Okinawa did have some commit suicide in caves.

 

[Stryker II]

Saipan was where civilians jumped off the cliff's. Okinawa did have some commit suicide in caves.

Leadman: in my studies concerning the Marine operations in WWII, I figured it almost had to be Okie or Japan itself, as I stated. Good picture of you with the M-1 and of course the famous Marine utility cover with its "8-points". Only Auburn Rubber company, as far as I know, ever molded these correctly for plastic figures on thier early Marines.

Brian: I again want to throw my hopes in that Tarawa will seriously be considered in any new projects...............Stryker

 

[Stryker II]

How about a demolition team blowing a hole in the seawall for a sherman to come thru at Tarawa--which really happened...............Stryker..If CS does a sherman, I will have to buy two and name them China Gal and Colorado, The first night on Tarawa, they were positioned on both ends of the line, and 3500 Marines from the first days landings were between them. Colorado had taken such a beating that it actually had been set on fire, but the crew drove it back to the lagoon and put it out--then it continued on blasting pillboxes and providing support fire for the assault teams. Colorado was the reason why alot of marines made it and it is a legend in Marine Corps Tank battles. There were some Stuarts there also, but these Shermans were the real strength and took on the Jap Chi Ha's like swatting flies.........Stryker

 

[kingtoot]

some great ideas from a visionary. That would rival any ETO diorama available from any contemporary manufacturer of soldiers.

 

[bromhead]

Pictures are old but it might show the terrain. J Some armor and vehicles.

I looked at the Terrain flying into Kadena on my return from the pacific theater in 1967,,looked like the surface of the moon as to vegitation,,the old heads always said it was pretty vacant.

Re the wedding photo,was that Sgt Stryker playing the accordian? the things we do for intel

 

[Stryker II]

I looked at the Terrain flying into Kadena on my return from the pacific theater in 1967,,looked like the surface of the moon as to vegitation,,the old heads always said it was pretty vacant.

Re the wedding photo,was that Sgt Stryker playing the accordian? the things we do for intel

HOW DID YOU GUESS BROMHEAD??????...............Stryker

 

[Stryker II]

We have all seen the fanous photo of the LVT-2 crashed halfway on top of the seawall at Tarawa. In real, this provided cover from enveloping fire at the flanks, and was used as a make-do aid station for critically wounded. This would make a good diorama, with Corpsman helping wounded marines and oters protecting them from the jap snipers..................Stryker

 

[bromhead]

HOW DID YOU GUESS BROMHEAD??????...............Stryker

Assuming you werent playing Madame Butterfly or the Mikados greatest hits

 

[Stryker II]

NOOOOO, I wanted to rub it in on the wedding ceremony--so a rousing version of the Marines Hymm was in order, for a wedding march never to be forgotten!!..............Stryker

 

[bromhead]

Hope the groom and friends snapped to and rendered honors.