Laureled Sons of Dartmouth
Men Cited for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement
AT LEAST FOUR Dartmouth men received decorations for their work at Tarawa, one of the greatest actions in the history of the Marine Corps.
Major William C. Chamberlin '38, USMCR, received the Navy Cross in the name of the President of the United States "For extraordinary heroism as executive officer during, action against enemy Japanese forces in Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20-24, 1943; while serving with the second Marine Division. Although being wounded upon landing, he reorganized and coordinated the efforts of units in the most important and hazardous sector assigned to his battalion. These units consisted of the remnants of three companies of his own battalion and one company of a reinforcing battalion. In order for him to personally direct the successful yard by yard advance of these assault units, it was necessary for him to constantly change his position from one flank of a three hundred yard front to the other. In so doing, he repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy grenade and rifle fire. During the first two days of the battle the battalion was greatly handicapped by heavy officer casualties. By showing outstanding courage and leadership he was able to overcome the loss and inspired his men to heights of tremendous endeavors which resulted in a marine victory. His great personal bravery, fighting spirit and heroic conduct were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service."
Bill Chamberlin was a senior fellow while at Dartmouth, later took his master's and doctor's degrees at Columbia and was teaching at Northwestern when he was called to active service. He had taken his P.L.C. training at Quantico while still at Dartmouth.
In early 1941 he went to Iceland with the first marine contingent and was there almost a year. On his return, there was further training at San Diego before he moved into the Pacific arena and the Guadalcanal campaign. Hospitalized for a time thereafter in New Zealand, he was promoted to Major, and was in the Tarawa campaign as described.
The Navy Cross is the highest award save for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Bill also was the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal.
LT. GEORGE A. WRISLEY JR. '41 was 1 awarded the Silver Star medal in the same action for gallantry as a forward artillery observer with an assault battalion. I regret I do not have the citation for this.
Lieutenant Wrisley served on Tarawa as a naval gunfire spotter. His fire direction, accomplished under enemy sniper and machine gun fire, helped knock out enemy pillboxes and blockhouses.
MAJOR COLBY D. HOWE '39, USMCR, received the following citation for his service as set forth in the following: "For skillful and effective performance of duty on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 24-27, 1943, against enemy Japanese forces. During the above period Major Howe performed valuable service as Liaison Officer and Forward Observer in reconnoitering for possible artillery targets, with utter disregard for his-own personal safety. In addition to his assigned duties, he materially assisted a battalion to which he was attached, by furnishing communication facilities, transportation for supplies, and personnel to assist in the evacuation of the battalion's casualties. Due to the nature of the terrain, Major Howe, by his personal direction and example, was able to maintain his battery within supporting distance at all times. His devotion to duty was an inspiration to all with whom he came in contact. His skillful and energetic conduct and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
STILL ANOTHER DARTMOUTH MAN decorated for gallantry at Tarawa is Captain Robert F. O'Brien '41, one of the four officer sons of Dr. Edward J. O'Brien of Boston, Massachusetts.
Captain Robert F. O'Brien has been decorated with the Silver Star and in the Tarawa action came very close to losing his life. He was wading ashore in the third wave when a Jap bullet struck one of the carbine clips in his belt and set off 15 rounds of ammunition. He did not know if he had been hurt until he hit the beach a half-hour later and inspected the damage.
His citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during action against enemy Japanese forces in Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20-24, 1943. He, as a rifle company commander, by his cool, courageous conduct was an inspiration to his men in leading them ashore under heavy anti-boat, machine gun and sniper fire. After reaching the beach he quickly and courageously reorganized his own company with utter disregard for his own safety, and assisted in holding a shallow beachhead during the night of November 20, 1943. The following morning he led his company in the face of heavy machine gun and mortar fire in an attack to the south beach of the island, and aided materially in seizing a beachhead of sufficient length and depth to enable the division to land reinforcements and supplies. Throughout the entire operation his initiative, leadership, and disregard for his personal safety were an inspiration to his men. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Captain O'Brien, of the 2nd Marines, was also at Guadalcanal, and his division now has two Presidential citations, one for Guadalcanal, and one for Tarawa.
LT. GLENN GREEN '42, USAAF, was recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters for his activities on the flying fronts of Europe. Lt. Green, flying a Martin Marauder, has been stationed in England since May, 1943.
FOR ATTACKS ON enemy shipping in the Southwest Pacific, Lt. (jg) William B. Squier '40 has been awarded the Air Medal. Lt. Squier was commander of a U. S. Navy patrol plane which attacked Japanese menof-war and merchant ships despite bad weather and fierce enemy resistance. The citation said in part: "As commander of a patrol plane, you made numerous and extended flights at night, in unusually hazardous weather conditions and in the face of automatic, medium anti-aircraft fire. You bombed enemy men-of-war and merchant ships. Although your plane was hit while approaching your target, you made direct hits on a medium-sized merchant vessel with fragmentation bombs, probably causing serious damage. Your actions on these occasions showed a high degree of professional ability, unusual aggressiveness and coolness under fire."
Bill Squier is from Newton Centre, Massachusetts, and obtained his training as an aviator at the Naval Air base at Corpus Christi, Texas.
THE AIR MEDAL has been presented to First Lieutenant Calvert S. Bowie '40, USMCR, who has been reported missing in action. His citation reads: "For meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot in a Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron in the Solomon Islands Area on the night of May 14, 1943. Becoming separated from his flight in the vicinity of Bougainville Island, Lt. Bowie, despite extremely bad weather and poor visibility, dropped through a heavy overcast and sighted a three-thousand-ton Japanese cargo ship. Sweeping low to attack, he scored two direct hits which burst the vessel into flames and left her subsequently stranded upon a beach with her after section completely destroyed. His daring aggressiveness, maintained with utter disregard of personal safety, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." (Signed by Frank Knox).
Lt. Calvert S. Bowie's home is in Rockville, Maryland.
NOW BACK IN THIS COUNTRY is S/Sgt Meryll M. Frost '44, USAAF, recovering from severe burns received in a crash of a Liberator last February in Italy. He has received the Purple Heart. His letter is so interesting that I want to reproduce some of it here.
"I was a ball turret gunner on a Liberator bomber stationed in Italy. We had made several successful raids before the accident.
"On the morning of Feb. 8th we were called out at an early hour to prepare for a raid. Every man went through his routine checkup of guns, ammunition, turrets, bombs, and airplane. With that all completed, we started down the runway. It was a damp, cold morning, but evidently those in the know thought it suitable for flying. No sooner had we taken to the air when the plane started acting very peculiarly. The tail was bouncing up and down like a rubber ball. I called the pilot and asked what the trouble was, and was told to investigate. Going back by the tail turret, I examined the whole tail surface but could find nothing wrong. Is returned to my position in the waist just in time to hear the pilot calling for emergency landing instructions. By this time we had about five hundred feet of altitude and with fullpower settings were making about 160 miles per hour. From then on, it all seems like a bad dream. In less than a minute we had crashed and the plane burst into flames. Evidently I was dazed by the crash because the next thing I knew was that I was under a pile of wreckage and was all aflame. After fighting my way clear of the plane, I rolled on the ground to put out the fire. It took several seconds to gather my senses and realize what had happened. The air was heavy with smoke and fire and the caliber .50 shells were exploding like fire crackers. My left eye was completely closed and only a thin slit remained through which I could see with my right eye. My next impulse was to try to help some of the other fellows out so I started toward the plane. When I reached about ten feet from the plane, the two and a half tons of bombs we had aboard exploded. Luck was with me for I was uninjured by the shrapnel although the concussion threw me for quite a distance. It was then an Italian took my arm and led me to his home where I awaited the ambulance. Since then I have been under the care of the Army Medical Corps and, believe me, there is none better."
MAJOR WILLIAM C. CHAMBERLIN '38, USMCR, being congratulated by Admiral Chester Nimitz for winning the Navy Cross for his magnificent leadership at Tarawa.
