WWII: Looking for Mariana Islands Vets
This piece from htrnews.com caught my eye today, “World War II Veterans Sought for Medals.”
Don Schroeder of Manitowoc wants to contact World War II vets who saw service in the Pacific between June and July 1944, specifically the men who participated in the invasion of the Northern Mariana Islands, which includes Saipan and Tinian.
In 2004 the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands commemorated the 60th anniversary of its liberation from Japan with a medallion. Now the Commonwealth wants every member of the armed services who took part in that liberation to have one of the medallions.
Veterans may contact Don Schroeder at 3703 Dale St., Manitowoc, Wisconsin or at gerryanddon [at] sbcglobal.net. VWF Post 3457 in Saipan is handling the distribution of the medallions, which technically cost $10. They’re not asking for the money, but will happily accept donations since the post also maintains a museum. The medallions have a diameter of 2.5 inches and are an eighth of an inch thick on a red, white, and blue ribbon. One side bears the seal of the Commonweatlh of the Northern Mariana Islands while the other reads, “Our Grateful Islands remember Tinian, Saipan, 1944-2004.
Schroeder is himself a vet, having served abord the U.S.S. Sangamon CVE-26, which was an escort aircraft carrier and part of the 5th Fleet under the command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance at the time.
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WWII, World War II, Mariana Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Don Schroeder
June 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I HAVE APPLIED FOR THE MEDAL FOR THE BOMBARDMENT OF SAIPAN AND TINIAN. I HAVE
SENT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. THAT IS:
A COPY OF MY DISCHARGE AND MY RECORDS FOR
THE TIME I WAS ON THE USS NORTH CAROLINA
DURING THAT THAT BOMBARDMENT. I CAN
REMEMBER BEING UP ON THE BRIDGE LOOKING AT
THE ISLANDS THROUGH A LONG GLASS. ALBERT
L. PHILLIPS idaalp@msn.com
June 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I WAS ON THE USS NORTH CAROLINA AT THE TIME
OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF SAIPAN
I WAS ON THE NORTH CAROLINA BB55 ON THE DAYS
OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF SAIPAN AND TINIAN.
I REMEMBER STANDING ON THE BRIDGE LOOKING
AT THE ISLANDS THROUGH A LONG GLASS.
SINCERELY, ALBERT L. PHILLIPS RM2C
idaalp@msn.com
September 6th, 2008 at 8:32 am
My Grandfather recently received this award and I have been looking for a picture of the back side iscription.
I’ve included a link to the newspaper article
http://m.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/UPDATES/80904028/-1/WAP&template=wapart
Copy and paste the url into your browser
November 11th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
USS HEYWOOD APA6- COXSWAIN OF AN L.C.V.P. SPENT 15 DAYS IN THAT BOAT-UNLOADING SHIPS AFTER PUTTING TROOPS ASHORE-USNR SER.7269049 PICKED UP -SENT TO KAWAJELIEN TO REJOIN OUR SHIP- RETURN TO AID IN TINIAN INVASION- WENT ON TO PHILIPPINES-OKINAWA AND TOKYO– IS THERE A “MARIANAS MEDAL” FOR THE SAIPAN/TINIAN INVASIONS–? IF YES- WHERE DO I GET ONE? BUD MCCONNELL