1721 Battery B Reunions

8/9/2019 1721 Battery B Reunions

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1993 REUNION OF "B" BATTERY MARINES - OCTOBER 2, 1993 - KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

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1993 REUNION OF "B " BATTERY MARINE LADIES - OCTOBER 2, 1993 - KANSAS CITY, MIS

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U.S.M.C. DECEASED OF THE 22nd Sep Packhowitzer BattalJan 24th 1994

As of this date these men of the 22nd Sep Packhowitzer Bat,wo be; or are presumed to be deceased.IF any of you men know of this list please let me (Al Lange) know immediately, so it can beMost were found by contacting a relative and I was told of thAlso if you know of a buddy who has died please let me know solooking for him.Locke John Bullard Troy Finney JohnMoss William Pikul Francis Figatelli EDecker Joseph Caudle William Hunt KennetWeekley Alex Legro John Harp RaymonKajawa Alois Veseskis Frank Eakle KenneHickman Ken W. Valentine James ^/Lee DonFitzpatrick James R. McLaine Scotty Nolte DelbeGiertson Charles Huss John Galbreath J


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As of 10/10/95 list of "B"Bat 2nT Sept Pack How. Batt 22nd MarinesAdams Jack & Pat 990 E. Lake Lotela DR. Avon Park,FL.33825Alakson Charles L & Dorothy 1390 Caclotta Drive Hemet, CA. 92543Berg Marshall R.& Carol 1586 Westfield St . West Springfield,MA. 01089Berry Turner A. 16723 Oak Street Delhi, CA. 95315Bogan Henrietta (Bill is decea sed) P."0. Box 525 State Center, IA. 50247Brennan Paul & Virginia 225 Essex Knoll DR. Coraoplis,PA.15108

7 Briscoe Harold E.& Neli 6450 Outlook Ave Oakland,CA. 94605-2126$

Clouse Ralph & Phylis 705 S.Clinton Apt.5-B Denver, CO. 80231

f Colle John & Irene PO.BOX 16 Nason," IL 62866Crossiyn Harold & Margar et 2104Cla"rk Lake RD. Weathrford ,TX. 76086Id' IL

Diamond George E.& Marion 1009 S.W.rars'-ls Lt.es Summit, MO. 64081-3217Donda Joseph & Helen 70405 Maynard RD. Saint Clairsville,OH.43950

car lance Jackson W 4540 W.41st Street Tulsa,OK. 74107-6208IS Di6$IVir

Harrison William F. 4214 Bethel Church RD.Apt.N-14 Columbia,SC. 29206Inman Archie E & Flora 600 Tower DR.RT3 Box715 Independence,KS

67301-8549/ , Jensen Melvin B.& Lucy 6492 S.E. Cavalier Way Portland, OR.97267Kielb Edward & Maria 26044 Lila Lane Dearborn Heights, MI . 48127
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RUSSELL A. STEPHEN4019 Springer Avenue

Royal Oak, MI 48073-641(810) 549-3826


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As of 10/10/95 list of ''B Bat 2nd Sent Pack How. Batt 22nd MarinesAdams Jack & Pat 990 E. Lake Lotela L)R. Avon Park,FL.33825Alakson Charles L & Dorothy 1390 Carlotta Drive Hemet, CA. 92543

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Berg Marshall R .& Carol 1586 Westfield St. West Springfiel d,MA. 01089Berry Turner A. 16723 Oak Street Delhi, CA. 95315

anria.fct'tf (Bill is deceased) P.O. Box 525 State Center, IA. 50247fctPvyBrennan Paul & Virginia 225 Essex Knoll DR. Coraoplis,PA.15108

y& Briscoe Harold E.& Neli 6450 Outlook Ave Oakland,CA. 94605-2126t Clouse R alph & Phylis 705 S.Clinton Apt.5-B Denver, CO. 802311 Colle John & Irene PO.BOX 16 Nason, IL 62866Crosslyn Harold & Margaret 2104Clark Lake R D. Weathrford,TX.76086

Diamond George E.& Marion 1009 S.W.Persels Lees Summit,MO.64081-3217Donda Joseph & Helen 70405 Maynard R D. Saint Clairsville,OH.43950ILGrstTre->J*ftJfttrn^W. 454 0 W .4 1s t S t r e e t Tulsa,OK. 74107- 6208V Z

fit Harrison William F. 4214 Bethel Church RD.Apt.N-14 Columbia,SC. 29206Inman Archie E & Flora 600 Tower DR .R T3 Box715 Independence,KS67301-8549H T

/ t > A/O Jensen Melvin B.& Lucy 6492 S.E. Cavalier Way Portland, OR.97267


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B r i s c o e Harold E.& N e l i 6 4 5 0 Outlook Ave O a k l a n d , C A . 94605-2126, C l o u s e R a l p h & Ph yl i s 705 S. Cl in to n Apt .5- B Denver, CO. 80231

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TSJack -& T J L 9 9 0 - E . Lake Lotela DR. Avuu Paik,PL.33025Alakson Charles L & Dorothy 1390 Carlotta Drive Hemet, CA. 92543Berg Marshall R.& Carol 1586 Westfield St. West Springfield,MA. 01089Berry Turner A. 16723 Oak Street Delhi, CA. 95315

J ^ W ^ ^ ^ ^ / j r Brennan Paul & Virginia 22-5 Essex Knoll DR. Coraoplis, PA. 15108

fy^J^tW^Z^^I* Colle John & Irene PO.BOX 16 Nason, IL 62866-0016? _Crosslyn Harold &Margaret 2104CIark Lake RD Weathrford TX.76086Diamond George E.& Marion 1009 S.W.Persels RD. Lees Summit,MO.64081-3217Donda Joseph &Helen 70405 Maynard RD. Saint CIairsville.OH.43950Harrison William F. 4214 Bethel Church RD.Apt.N-14 Columbia.SC. 29206Inman Archie E & Flora 600 Tower DR.RT3 Box715 Independence.KS.67301-8549Jensen Melvin B.& Lucy 6492 S.E. Cavalier Way Portland, OR.97267

JXielb Edward & Maria 26044 Lila Lane Dearborn Heights, MI. 48127Korogi Joseph A. &Mary 4610 Dupont Ave N. Minneapolis,MN. 55412


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( 3 )HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER

1200 Collins Road. N.E.Cedar Rapids , Iowa 52402 319-393-660800-541-106FAX (319) 393-

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NAME22nd MARINES

ADDRESS22nd MARINES

NIGHTSOpen 0CT11.96

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LINENUMBER DATE COMPLEX/ROOM DEPARTMENTDESCRIPTION REFERENCE AM

0 0 1 OCTiE0 0 2 OCT12 CASHBANQUET 17113


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CHARLES L. ALAKSON1390 Carlotta DriveHemet, California 92343Charles joined the Marines in September,1939, and was sent to boot camp in SanDiego, then Sea School, and joined theMarine detachment aboard the USS Indian-apolis, which was a heavy cruiser, inNovember 1939. The ship's home port wasPearl Harbor, but she pulled out of Pearlon December 5, 1941, so just missed thebombing of Pearl Harbor on the 7th.He was transferred to Camo Linda Vista inJuly 1942 and joined "B" Battery, 22ndMarines, where he met McAlister, McLean,Watilo and many other good Marines. Theyleft for Samoa sometime in November 1942and while there Charles and Sgt. Pittsstarted a boxing team. Charles was theonly heavyweight, while Watilo was alight heavyweight.On Saturday nights they had five or six

Charles Alakson and Cpl. Pa


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CHARLES ALAKSON - page twoThen from 1945 to 1948 Charles was on recruiting duty, going to Tao, China until1 9 4 9 , where he was the regimental twochief. He didn't like office work sowent out for the First Marines footballteam as left tackle, and they won FMF,W E S , PAC and also Far Eastern championships.He returned to the States in mid 1949where he joined the First Marine Divisionand then in 1950 the Fifth Marine Brigadeand ended up at the "Frozen Chosin" inKorea.Back to the States in 1951, he stayed inthe First Marine Division until October1 9 6 4 , when he was sent to the Philippinesfor duty with the Navy. They did all thephoto interpretation for the units inViet Nam. Charles was a master gunnerysergeant at this time, so really had itmade, going to Viet Nam a few times forabout two weeks at a time.


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.< CHARLES ALAKSON - page three

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Wrecked ship off "B" Battery camp,Guadalcanal Bob Watilo


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CHARLES ALAKSON - page four

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MARSHALL R. BERG1586 Westfield StreetWest Springfield, Massachusetts 01089413 733-1219Marshall tried to enlist in the Marines on Pearl Harbor day, but his would not sign for him, as he was only 17. He finally enlisted on thversary in 1942.He was sent to Parris Island, New River, San Diego and then to AmericSamoa in May 1943; then to Maui and the Marshall Islands. He was in transport, but that was not enough action, so volunteered to be a forobserver on Guam and Okinawa.On his return to the States, Marshall was discharged in Bainbridge, MNovember 17, 1945. He married Mary in 1946, who had written him everwas overseas. They had seven children and 20 grandchildren; but she away in 1976. He married Carol in 1983, and moved from Connecticut tchusetts at that time.Marshall belongs to the 6th Marine Division Association, Mehla TempleShrine, and Post 5847 V.F.W. He spent 30 years as a volunteer firemaserved as chief from 1968-1972, retiring in 1985. Also was town consfor 23 years.


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WILLIAM BOGAN105 5th N.E. - P.O. Box 33State Center, Iowa 50247515 483-2778Bill joined the Marines on August 19, 1941. He was 19 and didn't to go to college, and didn't really know what he wanted to do. Naenlistment was for six years, so he opted for the Marines and fourThe 22nd Marines were formed in June, 1942, in Camp Linda Vista, Cfornia. "B" Battery was formed at the same time. They went to Samin July, and stayed there about 16 months. Then aboard ship for Mthe Marshalls and Guadalcanal before Guam.While on Guam on the FO, an infantryman from G" Company ran up twith his helmet in his hand, a bullet hole fore and aft in it, ansmall crease in his head. He was crying, laughing, and scared stIf Bill's memory is correct, his name was Raines.Also, on a working party on the Canal, when 40 Marines were sent load beer for the Army, they weren't supposed to get any beer - oload it. Needless to say, about 35 ended up under the dock, drinbeer. Lt. Richards was in charge, and he ordered the party to co


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PAUL BRENNAN225 Essex Knoll DriveCoraoplis, Pennsylvania 15108412 264-6689After school, Paul joined the Marines be-cause his uncle was a China Marine.He first served at Parris Island, MarineBarracks, Washington, D.C., and then ship-ped out from Norfolk to Panama, and on toNew Caledonia, 22nd Reinforced. Paulstayed with Captain Schloesser, "D" Bat-tery, 15th.He was with the forward observers on SugarLoaf and carried messages down into thevalleys in between Surey Castle and SugarLoaf. He was pinned down, then proceededup to Surey Castle where the First Divi-sion people were engaged with the enemy.

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PAUL BRENNAN - page twoBelow is a picture of an old peacetime Marine who served aboard theTuscaloosa and was at the battle of Dunkirk - Master Gunnery Sergeant Bill Brennan, H&S Battery, 15th Marines. Bill is gone now,but he and Paul had some great times together. His family and Paul'sare from the same state, outside of Philadelphia, and are related.Bill is pictured beside one of the mountain guns the Japs used atOkinawa, and a movie was later made about it. Bill brought the gunback to display on Guam. He received special commendation when healone went into the ammunition dump in northern Okinawa and put outa fire with his bare hands.Bill and Paul went over the wall on their first night in China andraised hell; but made it back for roll call the next morning.


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ROBERT S. CODY ("A" Battery)805 Hastings DriveKissimmee, Florida 34744407 847-4399YOUR JUNIOR OFFICERSRobert ended up at the University of Florida in June 1941. He hadplied for USMC officers training, but took a job which paid $15 afor a 60-hour week. Like all young guys, he bought a car, with pof $6 a week. Room and board were $7. He smoked a carton a week $1.25. So he had 75c to spend any way he wanted to!Four months later he asked for active duty, and his dad took over car and payments. He "enjoyed" three months at Parris Island boowhich was a very educational and useful experience'. Graduating fboot camp a week after Pearl Harbor, after a few weeks was on hisQuantico for more of the same. OCC began February 1, 1942.Except that the DI's were a little more polite, there was no diffin the boot camp they called Officer Candidate Class at Quantico Parris Island, except that he qualified with an M-l instead of anAfter OCC, where he held the exalted rank of Pfc, he got his comm


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ROBERT S. CODY - page twotwo divisions, and the cadre of non-coms and officers came from the2nd Division, with most of the junior officers being from ROC, andboots from San Diego. It was the only regiment to do its trainingoutside the U.S., though the 3rd Marines who ended up on AmericanSamoa must have done some of their training there.The assignments were pretty informal for the 2nd louies. A reinforced regiment had a battalion of artillery, three battalions ofinfantry, a company of tanks, one of engineers and one of specialweapons.The way Bob got into artillery was simple. They asked what the newlientenants would like to serve in, and his friend, Mo Garrett,punched Bob: "Hey Cody, pick artillery. I took it at Eastern Kentucky." Since Bob had taken infantry ROTC at Florida, he raised hishand, and he was in Battery "A". Riding was better than walking!His second day in artillery, he was standing watching a gun drillwhen the sergeant came over: "Lieutenant, you're blocking the lineof sight." Bob had never heard the term before, but he moved. Theywere sighting on a San Diego peak shaped like a breast and nicknamed"Nellie's Tit."


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ROBERT S. CODY - page threeknow they were on their way to Guadalcanal, but with them they tthe nice new tents, the mosquito nettings and the rubber-tired wfor the pack howitzers. The battery retained their wooden wheelstheir rotten tents at Mulifanua Plantation. Again, Bob found itgood to be an officer, as they got mosquito nets. A great many elisted men didn't, and the result was filiarissis frequently, buhis knowledge noone developed elephantiasis.REBUILDING THE BASEBattery "A" was positioned at the Battle Command Post, a jungle aBattery "B" was a quarter mile away. Battery "C" and a third of the 22nd were on Wallis Island, 300 miles away across the Date Libut still part of the "Samoan Defense Force," a division-sized trconcentration.Battalion HQ was on the lagoon, beyond the ariport and a cadre o105's was on the other side of the airport, ready to fire out to Near the base entrance was the 2nd Defense Battalion with Long Toand three-inch anti-aircraft, with the Seabees nearby, and one intry battalion.


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RALPH CLOUSE705 S. Clinton, Apt. 5-BDenver, Colorado 80231303 343 7447In June of 1942 Ralph's wife Phyllis signedhim over to the Corps, for which she got afancy framed certificate congratulatingher for "furnishing" a husband for theMarine Corps.Before going overseas Ralph spent time atElliott and Pendleton, and in the Pacificwas a machine gunner in the Marshalls,Guam and Okinawa campaigns. Marshall Bergand Ralph both made corporal on the sameday in 1944.Ralph and Phyllis had been married a yearand a half when she signed him over to theCorps. She came to San Diego and workedawhile in a Civil Service job on North Island, and then went to work for a localdoctor. She returned to Denver beforeRalph shipped out, to have their baby


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JOHN COLLEP.O. Box 16Nason, Illinois 62866618 279-3264John grew up living coal mining, married Irene and worked under38 years.He enlisted in the Marines December 8, 1941, and was sent to ChBut he was turned down by being half an inch short. Then he weSt. Louis and with the help of the quarter round next to the bahe made the required 5'-41s".Our of boot camp in San Diego, he joined "B" Battery at Camp LiVista. He was on the #2 gun as gunner from April 1942 until thgan forming the 6th Marines in November 1944.Was promoted to corporal in March 1943, and spent time on eightand two LST's. Returned Stateside in December 1944, and was died in November 1945.


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JOSEPH DONDA70405 Maynard RoadSaint Clairsville, Ohio 43950614 695-2885Joe went to the CCC camp in 1938, and whenhe got home, worked in a coal mine until hejoined the Marines. He joined the 22ndMarines in Maui as a machine gunner anddemolition man.He went to the Marshall Islands, Guam, Okinawa and all the way to Tsingtao, Shang-tung Province, China, to disarm the Japs.He was sent home to the States and discharged December 11, 1945.He and Helen were married December 24, 1947and they had five sons, pictured below.Joe worked for International Harvester for31 years until he retired in 1983, and hasenjoyed every bit of it. He will be 69years old June 22nd.


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MORRIS M. GARRETT, M.D. ("A" Battery)53 Winston HillFort Thomas, Kentucky 41075606 441-3151When Morris was about 12-16 years old,he'd sit around his home in Eastern Kentucky and listen to old Marines tellabout their South American duty. He thenwent to Eastern Kentucky State Collegein 1937 and had two years there including R.O.T.C.He was enrolled in Platoon 124 in 1941,and when finished he was an assistantinstructor for Platoon 125 and later,12 days after Pearl Harbor, he was assigned a platoon of 150 men, all oversix feet tall, and took them throughboot camp by himself.

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MORRIS M. GARRETT, M.D. - page two

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JACKSON W. GLANCE4540 W. 41st StreetTulsa, Oklahoma 74107918 446-2984Jackson was the son of a share-cropperand in 1939 he secured a job with Mid-Continent Petroleum Corp., working inthe yard.

He enlisted in the Marines on April16, 1942, at Oklahoma City. On July19, he joined the 22nd Marines, rightout of boot camp., at Camp Linda Vistaand the first people he knew therewere Jack Adams and Joe Ferrar, justreturned from Iceland.Jackson accompanied "B" Battery toSamoa, Hawaii, the Solomons and Marianas, and participated in action onKwajelein, Eniwetok and Guam as a ma


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WILLIAM F. HARRISON4214 Bethel Church Road - Apt. N-14Columbia, S.C. 29206803 782-4255In 1940 Bill was in school in South Carolina, and wanted to go to Canada and jointhe R.A.F., as many young men were doing atthat time. But he was too young, and waited until 1942, when his parents signed papers that permitted him to join Marines.After boot camp, he joined Battery "B", andalso served with Battery "E", 2nd Battalion, 15th Marines, 6th Marine Division.Bill served on Guadalcanal, and was discharged after a tour of duty on Okinawa.He went back to high school and college andworked mostly as a salesman, then became apoliceman, as a member of S.L.E.D. (SouthCarolina Law Enforcement Division), fromwhich he retired in 1986.


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ARCHIE E. INMAN600 Tower Drive - Route 3, Box 715Independence, Kansas 67301316 331-7741Archie was born in Hartford, Illinois, on March 18, 1926, but hiparents moved to Venita, Oklahoma, when he was about a year old.His parents were farmers, and moved to a farm just south of Jefferson, Kansas, just before he enlisted in the Marines on Decembe22, 1941, at Kansas City.Basic training was in San Diego, and he joined "B" Battery in Juof 1942 in British Samoa, then went on to American Samoa and MauHawaii.Archie participated in action in the Marshall Islands and Guam, on his return to the States he went to Parris Island as an MP, awas there about a year. He was discharged in December of 1946, ing back to school for about a year.

In 19.48 Archie started working for Cities Service Gas Co., stayiwith them for 38 years. He retired in 1986 at Humboldt, Kansas.


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MELVIN B. JENSEN6492 S.E. Cavalier WayMilwaukie, Oregon 97267503 653-6062Mel was born in Askov, Minnesota, June 8, 1923, but the weatherwas too cold, so he left to be reared in Pasadena, California.He attended the local schools and later was employed at SantaAnita race track office boy when war was declared.He enlisted in the Marines, and joined "B" Battery, being assigned to the Communications Section.After his discharge he returned to college. His "temporary"employment at the local lumber company led to a career in buying and selling lumber.In April 1959 he relocated to Portland, Oregon area and workedat lumber brokering (timber trading) until 1988. After "lumbering" 42 years, retirement proved to be just the avocation


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MELVIN B. JENSEN - page two

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Battery "B" Communication Section on Guam. Back row unknown except Whitaand Lt. Hastings the last two on right. Front row: Jim Galbreath, unknowRule Stout, Mel Jensen, Willie Malicoat, R. G. "Tom" Thomas, Bob Schnurr.Chuck Giertsen was not pictured.


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EDWARD KIELB26044 Lina LaneDearborn Heights, Michigan 48127313 561-8215After returning home from the Marines, Edward married his childhsweetheart, then attended school and became a journeyman opticaltechnician. He worked at this profession for 43 years before retiring in 1989. His wife Maria was a credit analyst who retired1990. Edward is also a stamp collector.They have two sons, Michael and Mark. Michael and his wife are bbiologists, and he works for the University of Michigan and has own business, Budget Birding. They belong to the Audibon SocietHis wife Susan teaches at a local school. Edward and Maria'sgranddaughter Alexis is nine years old, and of course beautiful talented.Mark got his MBA at the University of Michigan and has his own b


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JACK B. KINSEY2058 Via DieguenosAlpine, California 92001619 445-3075Jack was born in Meridian, Mississippi, on October 13, 1923. He enlisted in the Marines inAugust 1940. After boot camp he was sent toBremerton Naval Yard, Washington, then to Sitka,Alaska. He received infantry training at JacquesFarm, San Diego, in 1943, and left for theSouth Pacific August 8, 1943 from Treasure Island.After a stop at Tongariva Island, he joined the22nd Marines Reinforced Pack Howitzer Battalionin Apia, Samoa. Then moved to Maui for trainingfor Kwagelain. He participated in the battlefor Eniwetok, February 1944. After garrison dutyon Kwagelain, he transferred to Guadalcanal fortraining for the Guam invasion.In the battle for Guam as part of the 22nd Marines Reinforced 1st Marine Provisional Brigadein July 1944. Then he was sent back to Guadalcanal for training for the Okinawa invasion as


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EDWARD J. KULIG1243 Liberty StreetMorris, Illinois 60450815 942-2454In 1941, Edward was in Chicago attending a trade school, studyto be a machinist. Shortly after his 21st birthday in 1942, henlisted in the Marine Corps, and was sent immediately to the Diego base.After training there, he was sent to Camp Linda Vista as a replacement to the Pack Howitzer Battalion, a separate unit atteed to the 22nd Marines.After training in British Samoa, he served as a forward observradio operator on Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Guam and Guadalcanal. there he was sent Stateside, having served a total of 28 monthoverseas.His next assignment was at Great Lakes brig as a guard. Aftefew months, he was sent on to Camp LeJeune for a few more montand then discharged late in 1945.In November 1945 he was married to Alice, and they have two d


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ALBIN J. LANGE209 E. HazelwoodMorton, Illinois 61550309 266-9632Albin was born in the northeast cornerof Nebraska on a farm, and grew up inthat area, living on various farms andwalking to school two to four miles eachway. In high school, he lived with anuncle's family, working for his keep,going to high school which was a lotfurther. He rode a horse or two, depending on the weather; or drove amakeshift enclosed buggy built on an oldModel "T" chassis. This unit carriednine or ten students from several farmfamilies.During severe winter the smaller children would be boarded in town, and Albinwould ride an old blind mare. Attendingthis school was like having a privatetutor, as there were seven boys and

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ALBIN J. LANGE - page twoSix weeks later they were on their way toSamoa, and later the Marshall Islands,Guadalcanal. After a stint in the hospital at Oakland, California, Albin withabout 24 others was shipped by train toKlamath Falls, Oregon, to open the recuperation barracks there. They even had tounpack all bed equipment and set it up sothey could sleep the first night. It was"K" rations for a couple of days until thegalley was in operation.Later about ten of them were sent to NewRiver, North Carolina to a 90 mm antiaircraft gun school. They had previouslybeen thoroughly trained on them in Samoa.Then Albin and three others were sent toHawaii, and flown out to Midway, till after the war end.Albin's discharge was delayed, in spite ofhis having the second highest points inthe Southwest Pacific; but then he endedup at Mare Island, still refused a dis


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ROBERT T. MASSEY400 S. AmosSpringfield, Illinois 62704217 546-5427Before entering the Marines in May of 1943Robert was a student at Springfield HighSchool and ran a news stand in the statecapitol rotunda, as well as serving as apage in the Illinois General Assembly.He was sent to San Diego for boot camp,then on to Camp Elliott for eight moreweeks of training. From there aboard theS.S. West Point to Pearl Harbor and toMaui where he joined the Marines who hadcome from British Samoa. This was wherethe 22nd Marines were formed, and theywent on to Guadalcanal, after which theywere combat loaded on an LST for Eniwetokwhich they secured in 30 days.

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ROBERT T. MASSEY - page tw0

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LEON A. McALISTER2336 American River Drive - Apt. CSacramento, California 95825916 482-3820"Leon, the cagey croupier," was born on a small cotton farm three miles Cash, Arkansas, on August 5, 1917. His formative years, 0-20, were spenta community of one or two hundred. In a town that size it was easy to bbasketball team, the baseball team, and, of course, be a cotton picker.Too big for Cash, in 1937 Mac headed for Chicago where he worked for a yfore he decided that his talents must surely lie in other fields, and foself, along with millions of other depression males, jobless. He workedclair Oil for a year and when h3 got laid off became a habitue of the loling casino, eventually earning his keep doing odd jobs. After a year ohe again got the wanderlust and felt the lure of the west coast calling.In 1939 he found himself in Westwood, California, a northern town in thecountry. There he got a short-lived job in a veneer plant, only to findwithout work a year later.What was he to do? It looked ever more likely the United States would binto the war and he would be drafted for sure. He checked out the Navy enlistment was six years; not about to fly a plane, he ultimately decideMarines and those beautiful sea-going blues. He joined in Sacramento (tbe some irony that he has ended up there), and was sworn in in San Franc


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LEON A. McALISTER - page twoPearl Harbor was attacked, America entered the war, and by 1942 they were to New York and given a two-week leave with orders to report back to San DWithin two months they were in Samoa and the real war. Mac was in on the paigns at Inewetok and Guam and stayed in the Pacific throughout the remaiof the war.After he was discharged in 1945, Mac found adjusting back to civilian lifeone heavy load. He did a lot of drinking, a lot of spending money, and fifound himself back in the Chicago gambling casino he had left in 1939. Thsame guy he had worked for before was still running the place, and since Mhad a little more stuture now as an ex-Marine, he talked Mac into working him. Thus began Mac's career in the gambling business. He remained in Chuntil 1949 when they closed the casino down.Out of work again, he headed for Miami where he worked as a bartender at tGreen Terrace Hotel in Miami for nine months before pulling up stakes and ing for the west coast and a job at Lockheed in Burbank. On a weekend visLas Vegas he ran into gambling acquaintances he had known in Chicago, who sured Mac that he could make good money and get a secure job in Las Vegas,he decided to give it a try.He made the move, got a job at the Golden Nugget and remained in Las Vegasthe next 36 years, except for the summer of 1955, which he spent at the Ca


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LEON A. McALISTER - page threeit didn't take long before she had Mac hooked on tennis and on her too of 20 years and four trips to visit her folks in Ireland.Mac had bizarre and chance meetings of Marine buddies, starting in 1945Great Lakes when he was writing his discharge from the Corps that he heScottie McLean. He reported that he was on his way to be deployed someConnecticut, but would stop by Chicago to see him. What started as a vevisit turned into two weeks AWOL for both of them. Though the details it is a story that only bears telling while under the influence.He next saw Scottie in 1951 while tending bar in Miami. Though it was three days, like most visits with Scottie, it was memorable.While working at the Golden Nugget in 1954, Mac got a call from Mobary him that Scottie had undergone a back operation at Walter Reed, was in condition, and not expected to last the night. He called the hospital,best he could do was leave a message that some nurse promised she wouldHis message was, "Come on man, we have many more beer safaris to go on.hopes to God that nurse got the message through because Scottie died thMac was very close to Scottie.During his years in Las Vegas, Mac ran into any number of buddies. Froland contingent, he ran into Danny Fellows, Paul Drugo and Cecil Smith.


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LEON A. McALISTER - page fourwas Cecil Smith. Mac walked up behind him, stuck his finger in his spine, said, "Stick 'em up." He reacted as though Mac had been a real cop. As thIcelandic guys may remember, the word "renegade" was coined after Smitty. enough, Mac found out Cecil was wanted in Texas for shooting a Hispanic. AJeckel and Hyde type, he could also be the most charming guy one could everHe drove a cab around Vegas for awhile and then disappeared.Mac met Jimmy Valentine at the Sands, and found Jimmy to be pretty much an dicted gambler, with Vegas becoming a part of Jimmy's life. From their firmeeting in 1956 until Jimmy died in 1987, he must have made at least 40 thrto five-day excursions to Las Vegas. He never failed to get in touch with and shoot the breeze over drinks and dinner. Jimmy and Shorty Colle paid Mnice visit in 1984. Also Dan Parker and his wife Gloria made at least fourtrips.About a year before his death Jimmy appeared at Mac's place, and right awaysensed that this was not the Jimmy that he knew. There was something mentawrong. He told Mac that he had everything he owned in his car and was moviLas Vegas. His behavior was so erratic that Mac couldn't let him drive at so got hold of his keys and called his daughter in San Jose. She told Mac he had been diagnosed as having alzheimers only ten days before, to keep hithere, and his son would fly down and get him. Once Jimmy was convinced he


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DANIEL E. PARKER, SR.Route 8, #220St. Joseph, Missouri 64594816 238-1564 or 3275He was born October 9, 1920, at 602 Thompson Street, St. JosephMissouri. Attended Hyde School, which was directly across fromhis home.Daniel enlisted in the Marines on September 30, 1940, and tookboot training in San Diego. After that, he was assigned to the10th Marine Artillery Battalion, and made Pfc. on May 22, 1941.

Shortly thereafter he was transferred to Iceland on the U.S.S.Haywood, and returned to the States after Pearl Harbor. He thenmade corporal, and his unit was regrouped and shipped out to thSouth Pacific. He served with the 22nd Marines and variousother outfits in the Marianas and Marshall Islands.After returning to the United States, Daniel served on ParrisIsland and Quantico - discharged in May 1945.After returning home, he worked briefly at the St. Joe stockyards, then worked for Swift & Co. for 20 years, and purchased


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MELVIN R. PECKOSH7012 Melburn RoadCedar Rapids, Iowa 52402319 393-4486"Peck" was born and raised in Oxford Junction, Iowa. In 1940 he jthe Marine Corps and did his boot camp training in San Diego. Thenshipped out thru the Panama Canal to Charleston, South Carolina, whis division loaded tropical gear and went to Iceland with the 2/Dand was there when Pearl Harbor was bombed.After ten months in Iceland, Peck returned to San Diego where the Marines were formed. Then on to British Samoa and action at Eniweand Kwajalein, and then back to Guadalcanal for R&R. From there hifit blitzed Guam and Saipan. They returned to Hawaii, then Guadalwhere they formed the Sixth Marine Division.After three years in the South Pacific he was sent back to the Stawhere he was stationed at Parris Island. There Peck ran the .22 rrange and then transferred to the .30 caliber range. His time at Island brought him to meet his bride of 46 years, Myrtle Jordan, aWave stationed at the Naval hospital. He was honorably discharged1946, and they moved to Michigan where he attended college at MichState.


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HARVEY E. PIERCE625 Alameda Drive - #16Ontario, Oregon 97914The day after Pearl Harbor, Harvey and twoof his buddies decided to enlist in theservice. At that time they lived inShelley, Idaho, and the recruiter was inIdaho Falls, nine miles away.So they borrowed a car and went to thepost office to sign up. They knew theydidn't want to go into the Army, so tosseda quarter between the Navy or Marines.After they signed up, the recruiting sergeant asked if they wanted the reserves orregular. They asked what's the differenceand the sergeant replied "four years forregular and six months for reserve. Takethe reserve...this war will be over in sixmonths."

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HARVEY E. PIERCE - page twoAfter six months in Klamath Falls, Harvey was sent to Vallejo, CaMare Island, Building 49 was the Navy prison for Navy and MarinesHarvey did guard duty there until the end of the war.When he went home he didn't do much right off. Had to do some giring and beer drinking. But in 1947 he got married and had to setdown. He went to Idaho State College for a year in vocational trathen worked for J. R. Simplot for 21 years in master maintenance astruction. Before he retired from Simplot, he was divorced after of marriage, and has been on his own ever since.Harvey came back from the Oregon coast and went to work for the Ewhere he worked nine years as assistant manager... then retired agwent back and is still working three nights a week in the game rolets him have time off for golfing and fishing.


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RAYMOND ROBISON2333 Big HornEdmund, Oklahoma 73034405 340-0858"Robbie" was born June 2, 1924, in Goodman, Wisconsin. He graduated three monthsearly from high school in Hopkins, Missouri, to enlist in the Marine Corps onMarch 24, 1943, at Kansas City, Missouri.He completed boot camp in Platoon 273, andClass 20 at Field Telephone School, SanDiego, and Field Artillery Communicationtraining at Camp Pendleton. Robbie thenshipped overseas with the 30th ReplacementBattalion from San Francisco on November8, 1943. He joined the 2nd Separate PackHowitzer Battalion on Maui, and participated in the Marshall Islands operationand garrison.


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RAYMOND ROBISON - page two

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HARRY B. SCHACKNOW8304 N.W. 59th StreetTamarac, Florida 33321305 722-1056Harry joined the Marines when he was 19, just out of high school. boot camp he was assigned to the 22nd Infantry, then transferred to7th Defense Battalion.He joined the battery in British Samoa the early part of 1943, and put on one of the howitzers, then was made battalion mail clerk. Onfriend he made was Edward Kielb, and they have kept in touch 46 yeaHarry's first engagement was the Marshall Islands, then Eniwetok anKwajalien. His next combat was Guam, then as usual they returned tGuadalcanal, their home training base.He was discharged September 19, 1945, and married his childhood sweheart, Lee, who he had gone with since 1935. They have a daughter two grandchildren, a girl 20 and boy 17.Harry worked in the textile industry in one form or another as ship


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H. CURWEN SCHLOSSER525 Fairfax RoadDrexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026215 622-2208Curwen worked his way through West Chester, Pennsylvania State TeachCollege, with a summer job every year at the Sinclair Refining Co. icus Hook, Pa. Every tanker had a forward hold for dry cargo; he wasstevedore working and sweating, loading those ships.After he joined the Marines he was sent to Eniwetok to join the 22ndines as a young second lieutenant with lots of training and no experOne day he was looking at the fish in the coral reefs when an orderlout and said, "Sir, you are the loading officer of a ship. You mustready with all your gear packed in one hour." With the little gear one had in the Marine Corps, one hour was more than enough.It was a random choice, but his experience stood him in good stead. had only two oral directives: "Make sure the mens' beer is cared forerly and securely, and, if you value your career in the Marine Corpsdouble sure the colonel's jeep will be the first vehicle off the shiAt Guadalcanal they trained for Guam. Curwen was assistant executivficer of "B" Battery, 2nd Separate Pack Howitzer Battalion, 22nd MarReinforcement. The officers were:

Jim Haynes, captain - battery commanderGeorge Atkinson, captain - executive officer


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H. CURWEN SCHLOSSER - page two3

"B" Battery Communications Section. Extreme right, standing, Lt. Hastings, from left; kneeling, Sgt. Rule Stout, section chief. JP 'HttHI


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ROBERT SCHNURRLake Villa Apt. #422 - 2501 Sherman AvenueCoeur D'Alene, Idaho 83814208 664-6170Before joining the Marines, Robert attended the University of Idaho fuary 31, 1942, majoring in accounting and received a B.S. (business) listed February 4, 1942, and was in boot camp platoon #226, then teleon to Camp Linda Vista when the 22nd Regiment was formed, June 21, 19Then Robert spent from July 19, 1942 until November 14, 1943, in BritSamoa. On to Maui, which he left on January 24, 1944, and to Kwajaliruary 11, 1944. Eniwetok to March 2, 1944; Guadalcanal to May 28, 19again until May 21 with a couple of stops at Guam, which he left Auguthen Guadalcanal again until September 21, 1944.About the funniest thing Robert remembers about the service was an ocwhen the battery was not firing, he, Galbreath and Jensen were under Robert got the "shakes," but was reluctant to make it public; when alhe touched Galbreath and he was shaking as well. All three laughed, alieved the tension, so they stopped shaking.Another occasion on Guam Robert was crawling down the trench from thethe command post in the middle of the night, and found two guys underthe trench, matching pennies with the aid of a flashlight.


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ROBERT SCHNURR - page tworived at Oakland Naval Hospital October ib. He was discharged May 9, 194i>,being sent to San Diego and Banning, California.Robert met Berenice Roy in San Diego March 8, 1945, and left with her to go Spokane with the intention of getting a job. He succeeded, and was employed a packing company where he had worked the summers of 1938, 1939, 1940 and 194He started work June 1, 1945 and was there until December 30, 1949.In the meantime Berenice came to Potlatch, Idaho, where they were married in1945. They honeymooned at a lake where Robert's folks had a summer cabin, thmoved to Spokane on September 1, 1945, where they lived until 1968, when theyto Rockford Bay on Coeur D'Alene Lake, Idaho.Their son Frederick R. was born October 18, 1946, and Robert left the packingpany December 30, 1949, and was sworn in as an Internal Revenue agent on Janu1950. He served with the U.S. Treasury until October 1, 1976. The enlistmenMarines plus Treasury time gave him 30 years, and allowed him to retire whe58 years old.The I.R.S. duty was entirely in Spokane, where he audited income tax returns ern Washington and one two-month period in Fairbanks, Alaska.Their son and his wife Cecelia presented them with two grandkids. They all l


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JOHN STRONGOSKY21 Robin RoadMcKees Rocks, Pennsylvania 15136412 787-1464On September 16, 1940, when the draft wasstarted, John was 17 years old. Whilewaiting to be drafted, he got a job as adriller's helper for a strip mine operation, and had a lot of fun playing ball,chasing girls and all of that stuff. Soafter Pearl Harbor he enlisted, as he wasgoing to be drafted anyway.John was one of the first to go from thesmall town of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania,about 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, enlisting on January 21, 1942. He went toboot camp in San Diego, and still remembersthat experience. One time the platoon hada wake for a sand flea one of the boyskilled, and the d.i. went nuts. That fleawas in the Corps for a long time and bit a

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RALPH THOMAS26500 North Good Hope RoadAthol, Idaho 83801208 683-2206Ralph enlisted in the Marines February 6, 1942 and after boot cawas sent to the 22nd Regiment, which was being formed, at LindaVista in April or May of 1942.The unit had beven been to Iceland, but many of the NCO's hadserved there with other units.The 22nd Marines Reinforced left San Diego on July 19, 1942 andended up in British Samoa. After being rotated home with the guRalph was assigned to duty at the Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washinton, which was not far to his home near Spokane. It was good duin Bremerton, and after a year he was sent home on February 6, 1Ralph's home town was Reardan, population 421, about 20 miles weof Spokane, and he went to work in a local hardware store. On t


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PAUL M. TONSING6908 SheridanFort Worth, Texas 76134817 293-7394Paul was born in Atchison, Kansas, onMarch 3, 1917. His father was a Lutheran minister who married the daughter of the governor of Kansas. They Wthad eight children, of whom Paul wasthe youngest.Unable to make a living as a preacher, Paul's father started a smallprinting business, and all his brothers and sisters learned that tradestarting at age 12.Upon graduation from high school, anddeath of his father, Paul moved to LosAngeles and worked as a printer on theLos Angeles Times until early 1941,


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PAUL TONSING - page twoWhen he caught an enlisted man courtingher, so declared Apia off limits. Thisslowed down the visits somewhat to Apia,so Paul took to volunteering, in spiteof the old service axiom to never volunteer for anything.Among the estra chores was the garbagerun, which took practically all day,was past spectacular scenery, and avoided the monotony of endless drills wherethe battery had to disassemble the guns,crouch down in a simulated landing bargemade of coconut logs, then climb overthe sides and run across a field withthe various components, and reassemblethe guns in a prescribed time. Anyway,Paul got his only wound in the war...he fell off the garbage truck and brokehis clavicle. While attending a movieone night, with a cast across hisshoulders and white hospital shirt, hewas chewed out by a zealous officer fornot being in uniform.


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WILLIAM L. TVEIT4782 Arisonz St. - #5San Diego, California 92116Retired as a staff sergeant in 1962 after 20 years, 1 month and 1days active service in the Marines.He was put on the disability retired list, due to the effect of wfrom the Korean war.After World War II, Bill did duty overseas in China, Japan, KoreaOkinawa and Guam.Stateside he covered almost all bases: Camp Pendleton, Camp LeJePensacola, Great Lakes, Washington, D.C., El Toro and a tour of ring duty in Ohio.


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MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES FROM BATTERY "B"

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MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES FROM BATTERY "B" I I

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THE 1992 BATTERY "B" REUNION AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 12-13-14 .'.TOP ROW: Robert Massey, Fred Moss, Edward Kielb, Mel Jensen, Charles Alakson, Al MascJohn Strongosky, Paul Tonsing, Paul Brennan and Al Lange.

MIDDLE ROW: Harold Briscoe, Dan Parker, Russ Stephens, John Colle, Pinky Peckosh, RayRobison and Jackson Glance.

BOTTOM ROW: Archie Inman, George Diamond and Leon McAlister.


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LADIES AT THE 1992 MARINE "B" BATTERY REUNION AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 12-13

TOP ROW: Marion Diamond, Carol Moss, Virginia Brennan, Joyce Robison, Ann StrongosToney Tonsing, Jan Massey, Vivian Maschke, Dorothy Alakson and Irene Colle.MIDDLE ROW: Gloria Parker, Maria Kelb, Neli Briscoe, Anna Lange, Myrtle Peckosh anLucy Jensen.

ON THE FLOOR: Phyllis Stephens and Flora Inman.


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1721 Battery B Reunions

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