Okay, sorry it took so long for me to post pics. I really need to invest in my own digital camera. I was also delayed by work, being lazy, and the sheer indecipherability of some of this "hand -writing". I'm told it is called "cursive", though there is a decided lack of cursing present. Curious.
This is the book itself, still in fairly good condition though the binding is coming loose. I believe it may have been green at one point. Also, it appears that the Marines couldn't afford their own handbooks at the time or something.
Uncle Ed's Personal Record. He has no weapon serial because he was part of a heavy-weapons platoon. Note also the heartening tips for being a good soldier on page 4, there. The previous 3 pages are occupied by the same stuff. I don't recall seeing any of the same stuff in my much larger, comprehensive, and greener handbook (known simply as the "knowledge"), which inclines me to believe that this book was published with the knowledge that there were going to be a lot of draftees. I never got a journal, either
Part of the technical section that describes all things every soldier is supposed to know. This section is about 20 pages long, and reads much the same as present-day soldier's manuals, albeit not as detailed. For some reason, it has more illustrations, though.
This is the end of the technical section and the beginning of two pages of blank lines for autographs from war buddies. I wish I'd had one of those. The rest of the diary makes mention of some names listed on these pages. Sadly, several of them were killed in action, mostly from artillery.
Early days of action in Luzon in Jan. '45. The diary makes little mention of the naval activity that precedes this point other than shipboard conditions, particularly the lousy food. I guess he either wansn't watching or was below or didn't care to write about it.
Other units begin taking casualties. I know it's hard to see here, but on the bottom of the left page somebody got bayoneted. The writing is kind of faint, but either 11 (something) were killed (something), bayoneted, or "H" Company was bayoneted. If anyone can make it out, I'd appreciate it.
In April, Uncle Ed gets admitted to the General hospital for sores (from all the moisture and crawling and dirty clothes and sleeping in dirt) and combat fatigue. This is the only real break he gets the whole time other than a couple of other rotations to the rear to recieve replacements.
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I wish I could post more pics, but reading through this is taking a long time and I only had the camera for about a half-hour. Some of the pages are just plain unreadable, as the ink has run. I'm still trying to find a page that describes the actions that earned him his medal. I really hope it isn't one of the smeared ones
In the meantime, I'm trying to find out who has the citation, if it still exists. My Great Aunt Juanita tells me that she still has a bunch of his old stuff.......
somewhere
I'll post more as I get the chance. Hope you enjoyed!