A PERSONAL STORY……

 

From an article in The Desert Sun, a Palm Springs area newspaper, dated 12/17/10

Submitted by Marvin B. Theroux, AOM1C, Squadron 106, Crews 2, 6 & 16

 

As a member of a U.S. Navy patrol/bombing squadron, Marvin Theroux flew more than 110 missions as a machine gunner aboard the Navy’s version of the B-24 bomber.  Theroux’s first eight months of overseas duty was spent as a belly gunner on a four-engine, PB4Y-1 Liberator aircraft.  

The squadron scoured the Pacific Ocean locating and attacking enemy ships, bombing and strafing enemy emplacements on tiny, yet strategically important islands, and performing reconnaissance operations in preparation for invasion landings.  

“We were patrolling, looking for trouble, providing air cover to keep fighters away,” from planes carrying photographers.  

Suspended from the bottom of the aircraft, Theroux manned twin, 50-caliber machine guns from inside the cramped, enclosed quarters of the belly turret.  

Theroux was a perfect fit for the position.  

“I was the shortest guy in the crew so I got the belly turret,” Theroux said.  “I thought it was great.  I didn’t know it was the worst place to be.”

 

 

            The reunions have never been held in Nashville so we have a new city to visit.  Although this is the country music capital, you will find all genre of music.  There is Civil War history, plantations, museums, gardens, and of course lots of restaurants!  Your tours are being put together and the Reunion Registration form will be included in the June newsletter.  Your hotel reservations can be made now using the information below.  

            Donations are always appreciated and put to good use to enhance the Reunion experience.  Your contribution can be mailed to:  Lisa Kirk | 4426 Maple Ave | La Mesa, CA 91941
   
                          

Nashville at Vanderbilt
1811 Broadway
Nashville, Tennessee 37203

 

Group Blocked Rooms – Check-in Sunday, 8/7, 3pm | Depart Thursday, 8/11, 12pm

            $159 nightly for a std. 2-room suite, 1 king or 2 queens – add’l. $10 each for 3^rd & 4^th persons 

            No 2 bedroom suites available.

            Reservations if you are staying 8/7-8/11 only.  Phone:  (615) 320-8899  Group code NVY

            OR  website:  http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/B/BNAESES-NVY-20160807/index.jhtml

            Deadline is  7/7/16 for our group rate and guaranteed availability | 24 hour cancellation.

Pre/Post Reunion extended stay

            Our $159 group rate is extended 3 days before 8/7 and 3 days after 8/11.

            These days are NOT in our room block and subject to availability so reserve early.

            Reservations:  Call Chelsea Drummings @ (615) 277-4965 if you are extending your stay.

            Deadline is 7/7/16 for our group rate and guaranteed availability | 24 hour cancellation.

Amenities

            Complimentary:   internet, drinks and snacks at nightly Evening Reception 5:30-7:30pm, and

             hot breakfast, hotel shuttle within a two mile radius 7am-10pm

            Parking  per day:  $18 self | $22 valet

            In-room microwave, refrigerator, wet bar, coffee maker

            Business center, fitness center, whirlpool, sauna

HHonors

            Sign up for free before making your reservation if you are not already a member.  The points you accrue can be used for future free nights at any Hilton property. 

SCUTTLEBUTT  

Kathleen Leonard Leavitt, daughter of Jack Leonard (102) – In an email to Bob Kirk……I just read your personal story of time spent on Tinian during 1944-1945.  It is a remarkable accounting of incredibly challenging and historic times.  You have given me yet another glimpse into my own father’s life as a young man serving his country on those obscure islands of the South Pacific.  I have often wondered how all of you, young men from loving, comfortable homes, managed to adapt to such harsh, barren living conditions;  all the while maintaining the focus necessary to go out and face down the enemy and be prepared at any moment to go under attack from the enemy.  Such an incredible story of Life and the commitment to protecting American lives and the lives of those beyond these borders!  Thank you for sharing.  

Dave Weber, son of John D. Weber (106) – My names is Dave Weber, one of 13 children (#6) of John D. Weber.  It is with sorrow that I inform this great group of our loss of our super hero Dad.  He passed away on May 28, 2014 at a respectfully wonderful age of 91.  I had wonderful memories of listening to his life stories in the Navy, especially the VB 106.  We would sit for hours while he shared those memories in his last few months before passing.  I was blessed to receive his books from the Navy years and found the last newsletter with books.  

Lisa Kirk, Newsletter and Reunion Volunteer – We hope the personal stories that have been featured in the newsletters will inspire more of the veterans to send in a story from their time during their service.  It can be long, short or somewhere in between……a memory, reflection, or some facts.  All of it is enlightening to those of us who did not experience it and reminiscence for those who did.  Author Alan C. Carey has published books on PB4Y operations and is acquiring new material (photos and personal stories) that he would like to include for two works on such operations. Please submit your personal story to Lisa Kirk via email (hollingskirk53@aol.com) or US mail (4426 Maple Ave, La Mesa, CA 91941).  

We are still looking for your scuttlebutt.  It would be nice to hear from you, especially our squadron members!!! 

TIDBITS  

There are currently 77 living recipients of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, which was created during the American Civil War as the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces.  Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.  Of these 77 recipients, there are 6 remaining survivors from World War II, all of them between 90-95 years old having served in the Army or Marines.

 

SQUADRON WEBSITES

 

            http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/                      VPB-106 & VPB-102/14

            https://members.tripod.com/~vpb_102                                 VPB-102/14

            http://vpb106.com/index.html                                              VPB-106

             VPB-106 is also on Facebook

            http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/archive/                       VB-106

                      Harold Warnimont’s (102) movie film during his tour is on You Tube

            VP/VPB-102 Video, From Crew #9, July 44- May 45, HW ...   

                                           Also, check out these websites for information on our squadrons and members:

                        VPNavy.org               NavyLog.org

 

N E W ! ! !    Shelly Pridemore (cousin of Bob Kirk) has set up a Facebook page for the purpose of sharing our pictures from the reunions.  Post yours on Navy Squadrons 106/102/14 Association

           

Saipan……Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean

In 1914, during World War I, the island was captured by the Empire of Japan. The Empire was awarded formal control of the island in 1918 by the League of Nations as a part of its mandated territory of Nanyo. Militarily and economically, Saipan was one of the most important islands in Nanyo and became the center of subsequent Japanese settlement.  Immigration began in the 1920s by ethnic Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese and Okinawans, who developed large-scale sugar plantations. The Nanyo Kohatsu Kabushiki Kaisha built sugar refineries, and under Japanese rule, extensive infrastructure development occurred, including the construction of port facilities, waterworks, power stations, paved roads and schools, along with entertainment facilities and Shinto shrines. By October 1943, Saipan had a civilian population of 29,348* Japanese settlers and 3,926* Chamorro and Caroline Islanders.  

Japan considered Saipan as part of the last line of defenses for the Japanese homeland, and thus had strongly committed to defending it.  The Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy garrisoned Saipan heavily from the late 1930s, building numerous coastal artillery batteries, shore defenses, underground fortifications and an airstrip. In mid-1944, nearly 30,000* troops were based on the island.  

The Battle of Saipan from 15 June to 9 July 1944 was one of the major campaigns of World War II.  The United States Marines and United States Army landed on the beaches of the southwestern side of the island, and spent more than three weeks in heavy fighting to secure the island from the Japanese. http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/archive/ 

Without resupply, the battle on Saipan was hopeless for the defenders, but the Japanese were determined to fight to the last man.  By July 7th, the Japanese had nowhere to retreat. Lt General Saito (pictured at right) made plans for a final suicidal banzai charge. On the fate of the remaining civilians on the island, Saito said, "There is no longer any distinction between civilians and troops. It would be better for them to join in the attack with bamboo spears than be captured."  At dawn, with a group of 12 men carrying a great red flag in the lead, the remaining able-bodied troops — about 3,000 men — charged forward in the final attack. Amazingly, behind them came the wounded, with bandaged heads, crutches, and barely armed.  On July 9th, Admiral Turner announced that Saipan was officially secured.  Saito, along with commanders Hirakushi and Igeta, and Vice-Admiral Chuichi Nagumo committed suicide.  

The victory was the most costly to date in the Pacific War.  Of the 70,000* Marines and Army that landed on Saipan, the battle cost the Americans 3,426* lives and 10,364* were wounded, whereas of the estimated 30,000* Japanese defenders, only 921* were taken prisoner. Weapons and the tactics of

close quarter fighting also resulted in high civilian casualties of over 20,000.*  In addition, most of the remaining survivors committed suicide at Suicide Cliff or Banzai Cliff.  

* These figures vary by the source but all are close in the range of numbers.  


Suicide Cliff is above Marpi Point Field near the northern tip of Saipan, also known as Laderan Banadero, it is a location where hundreds of Japanese civilians and Japanese soldiers committed suicide by jumping to their deaths in order to avoid capture by the United States. The precise number of suicides there is not known.  Suicide Cliff is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.                                                                                                                                                    

Banzai Cliff is at the northern tip of Saipan island. It was, along with Suicide Cliff further inland, the site of numerous suicides by Japanese civilians and soldiers.  Hundreds jumped to their deaths rather than be captured by the Americans.  Some who jumped did not die and were rescued by American ships.  Banzai Cliff is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

A Personal Story  (continued from cover)

The squadron’s first missions were to Japanese-occupied Midway and Wake islands.  The squadron flew photographic reconnaissance missions and also strafed and bombed the islands.  The enemy took defensive action, firing anti-aircraft guns at the attacking U.S. planes.  

The squadron flew patrols from Hawaii, down to Christmas Island, south of the equator to New Hebrides, up through the Solomon Islands and into New Guinea.  

On May 23, 1944, the crew suffered its first fatality.  

“Our pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Johnson, did a masthead run on a (Japanese) destroyer escort,”  Theroux said.

“It was covered with camouflage that came off and it was loaded with lots of guns.  One shot came through the starboard side and hit our waist gunner and killed him instantly.  The waist gunner on the port side was hit in the legs three times.  My belly turret was right between them and never touched.”  

“What was hard to take was that we had only eight days until we were relieved of duty by a new squadron and we left for the states.”  

By the time the squadron returned to the U.S., Theroux had racked up 912 hours of flight time.  The crew spent 30 days on leave before preparing for their second phase of combat duty.  Returning to San Diego after leave, the crew was split up and a new squadron was created.  

“I was put in Squadron VPB-106 with pilot Lt. Cmdr. Goodloe.”  

After retraining with new crew members, they were sent back to Hawaii for more training in a new aircraft.  

“We now had a type of plane called the Privateer (PB4Y-2),”  Theroux said.  

It was a modified version of the Liberator.  Instead of a double tail, the new aircraft sported a single tail:  the belly turret was removed, and two waist turrets installed.  

Theroux was now a waist turret gunner.  

The squadron began combat patrols on December 14, 1944, searching for enemy shipping north of Hawaii. 

“On February 10, 1945, we left for Kwajalein Island and then Tinian Island where we did photo flights over Iwo Jima before it was captured by American troops,” Theroux said.  “After it was semi-taken (by the U.S.), we flew up to Japan and the China coast,” about a 15 hour flight from Tinian.  

The squadron would stop at Iwo Jima for refueling.  

“There were still Japanese in the caves,” he said.  “They would shoot at us with rifles when we were taking off.”  

On May 2, 1945, the squadron inflicted heavy damage on Japanese cargo-carrying ships.  

“They were bringing supplies to Japanese soldiers on the islands.  We were there to destroy them and all the supplies they were taking to the islands.”  

The squadron bombed and strafed the “shops” – which the Allies code-named based on the size of the Japanese ships.  

“We blew up one Sugar Charlie (300-1,000 ton vessel) and two Sugar Dogs (smaller, 150-300 ton ships), he said.  

The squadron followed all the way through on their mission to destroy the enemy.  

“They did it to us,” he explained.  “We would strafe the survivors in the water.  (The feeling was) the more you kill, the less you have to fight.  We’d go down as much as 250 feet from the water,” he said.  “You couldn’t see the expression on their face you’re going by so fast.  But they did it to us……we did it to them.”  

In June, 1945, not long before completing his second, and final, tour of duty, a carbuncle on Theroux’s backside saved his life.  

Theroux said doctors shot the inflammation full of penicillin to ward off infection and kept him under observation.  

“The doctor was going to release me to fly that day, Theroux said.  “But at the last minute, as I was walking out the door of sick bay, the doctor had second thoughts and said, ‘Why don’t you come back and see me tomorrow.’”  

“My crew went out that day and never came back.”  

Theroux’s crew – led by Lt. Cmdr. Goodloe, who was among the casualties that day – was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for combat operations over heavily fortified installations in Singapore and northern Borneo in April and May, 1945.  

Theroux, who considers himself extremely fortunate to have survived 114 missions and 1,700 hours in flight, said he didn’t allow himself to worry about getting killed. “I said, ‘I’m not going to die.  It’s just not going to happen to me.’”

 

                                                                                                                                                                     Marvin Theroux, World War II