HOLLANDIA (JAYAPURA) in 1944 - Page 10

lefty · #**226** (**permalink**) March 21st, 2008, 11:02 PM

Jack,
When you got back to Parker after your years of service how did you feel about the campaign? Did you feel proud to serve and a sense of accomplishment or disgusted about war and ready to put it behind you and to move ahead with your life? Did you discuss combat with your family and friends?

bigfun · #**227** (**permalink**) March 21st, 2008, 11:59 PM

Hey Jack!
Just caught up with this thread, 60 years later and I feel bad for your mother having to go thru that! But I'll bet they couldn't get the smile off of her face when she talked to your sister, huh!

I know what you mean when you talk about cold, I spent 2 years living in that area working on a hog farm in Rock Valley, IA. It's bitter cold out there!

Take care Jack!

lefty · #**228** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 02:53 AM

I know Rock Valley very well. How long ago and where from RV did you work?

bigfun · #**229** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 03:03 AM

Hey Lefty!

I'm the one who emailed you a while ago, about Steve and Lavonn, my cousins!
You remember?

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**230** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 03:51 AM

Hello Scott and Lefty,

How have you fellas been?

lefty · #**231** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 12:32 PM

Scott, I remember now. Wasn't sure you were the same guy.
Doing well Jack, and you? When you get a chance refer to my questions above.
Thanks!

bigfun · #**232** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 02:40 PM

Yep it's me Lefty!

Hey Jack!
I am well thank you sir! We got a little snow here yesterday, about 8 inches in my backyard, winter does not want to give up! How are you? Getting along well?
Hope it's warm there and you are well Jack!

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**233** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 04:04 PM

Hello fellas,

I'm doing well and feeling well, the weather will be in the high 70's today out here, looks to be a perfect day. Sorry to hear about the snow Scott.

Lefty, people were respectful who saw you in uniform, or knew you had been overseas. There was a job to do and we did it, at a terrible cost to everyone involved. Those who came home would be working at putting it behind them for the rest of their lives, it can ignored to an extent, but it's always there. I measure my accomplishments from war's end to the present. I think I mentioned family conversations a few times before on this thread, I would partially answer questions, my wife would tell the kids not to ask me about the war. My oldest came close to asking me the one question that's always lurking, "How many?".

bigfun · #**234** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 04:17 PM

I remember a TV series on life after the war, I cant recall the name though! They covered the topic of trying to get back to a normal life. Girlfriends who found a new man, jobs that went to someone else, kid brothers who didn't know how much to question, things of that nature. I don't know if this show was accurate but they did seem to show several aspects of life then.
I don't know what it must have been like to try to adapt to home life after being in such conditions as you have endured.
We may have covered this but was there something that you longed to do when you first got home?

Skipper · #**235** (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 04:27 PM

hi Jack, Well, to tell the truth this question didn't come to my mind at all. The reason is that I think the answer is obvious. I figure you would never forget the first enemy you kill, you would think it over and over again, then there would a second one and another and after so many you'd probably give up counting. I mean some you are not sure of, others were from a distance, others were "shared" or indirectly. I don't know if many veterans could answer this question. One answer would certainly "many", but the real answer could be "enough to survive" (this could include those killed by hatred, and maybe those who did not have to be killed but were because it was war and you pulled the trigger for whatever reason). I don't know Jack am I correct here? I could be totally wrong, as I wasn't there, but I have a feeling that I understand you quite well.

lefty · #**236** (**permalink**) March 27th, 2008, 09:45 PM

Jack,
Are you still checking in with us from time to time?

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**237** (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 01:32 AM

Lefty,

I'm checking in today.

lefty · #**238** (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 01:58 AM

Jack,
Since your wife is from Australia.........what other service time memories do you have of Australia and how many times have you been back there?

As far as jungle warfare....what are some of the single most heroic episodes you saw US servicemen perform?

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**239** (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 03:53 PM

Hello,

Lefty, I have been back to Australia eleven times over the years visiting my wife's family.

Your second question is a difficult one to narrow down. There were places and situations in which merely being there deserved a degree of merit. I witnessed selfless actions of men countless times.

If I were to remember just one event, and one fellow from the past, who's real name I don't think I ever knew, was called Strawberry. He was aboard the transport ship Sands with the 112th at the Arawe landings of '43, and what he did happened a few hundred yards off shore. Strawberry was quite a swimmer, he pulled a number of men to the few rubber boats we had remaining before he became one of the missing men. We were put ashore in about 15 rubber rafts just before dawn due to the shallows caused by the coral reefs, the out going current had us paddling to shore long enough for the japs to open up with machine gun and automatic cannon fire. We lost a dozen of the boats, it's very hard to swim in boots and leggings, our only flotation was an absurd inflatable belt which looked like two over sized garden hoses on a web belt.

bigfun · #**240** (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthWestPacificVet

..... There were places and situations in which merely being there deserved a degree of merit.

Agreed!

Good to hear form you Jack!!

Falcon Jun · #**241** (**permalink**) March 31st, 2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthWestPacificVet

If I were to remember just one event, and one fellow from the past, who's real name I don't think I ever knew, was called Strawberry. He was aboard the transport ship Sands with the 112th at the Arawe landings of '43, and what he did happened a few hundred yards off shore. Strawberry was quite a swimmer, he pulled a number of men to the few rubber boats we had remaining before he became one of the missing men. We were put ashore in about 15 rubber rafts just before dawn due to the shallows caused by the coral reefs, the out going current had us paddling to shore long enough for the japs to open up with machine gun and automatic cannon fire. We lost a dozen of the boats, it's very hard to swim in boots and leggings, our only flotation was an absurd inflatable belt which looked like two over sized garden hoses on a web belt.

Strawberry. He must've been quite a colorful character to have such a nickname. He should've been decorated for his selfless act.
Were you among the guys Strawberry pulled out of the water?

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**242** (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 05:37 AM

Hello Falcon,

Yes, I agree, I think he pulled three to our raft, then swam over to the two rubber boats, I don't know if he got hit, or what became of him, but we lost him that day.

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**243** (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 06:14 AM

We had three intact rafts over loaded with the wounded and bewildered, two others were still floating on one end by a trapped pocket of remaining air with a half a dozen or so hanging on to keep their heads above water. Our transport had got underway as soon as we began to head for shore in the early light, and we were drifting now with the japs keeping things interesting for us stitching up random geysers in the patches of water between us. The strong outgoing current which we were paddling against, was carrying us away from the peninsula. Our raft was a sorry sight, we had lost most of our gear, I sat straddle with one leg in the water trying to paddle us closer to the group as we moved further out of range, while three or four in the water along side held onto a line which ran around the raft. We were a hopeless looking soggy lot, a number facial wounds, one fella was missing part of a hand, another hit in the collar bone, one or two were unconscious, most were in shock with teeth chattering away for one reason or another. The raft had six or eight inches of red water aboard and someones last meal splashing back and forth. We past over a patch of coral that lay four feet from the surface, I slipped over the side and stood up to hold the raft in place and we tried to get the other boats to paddle over before we all drifted out to sea, or got separated.

Hands are giving out, all for now.

Falcon Jun · #**244** (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 11:27 AM

Wow. That was some ordeal. How many hours did it take before friendly units picked you guys up? Did the blood attract any carnivorous fish?
I am really honored to be among the people you are sharing your experiences with. You are one amazing guy.

Skipper · #**245** (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 12:43 PM

I was going to ask that: I would have scared to death, all this blood in the sea and then diving on razor blades coral. I can imagine the oil and the salt on the wounds too, it must have been hell if you add the sun , the lack of water and not knowing if and when you are going to be picked up.

**SouthWestPacificVet** · #**246** (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 01:13 PM

Well,

I've never spoken of this in detail, the whole event took place in less than 3 hours from the time we got off the transport until our rescue, it went wrong very quickly, our mission was a route as we scrambled together in retreat, we were attempting to get out to a destroyer which was laying a mile or more off the reef, appearing to be unaware of our situation.

I'm not amazing Falcon, but I have been with men who were. I don't know how close any sharks might have been, perhaps the rounds hitting the water kept them away.

bigfun · #**247** (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 02:05 PM

That sounds terrifying Jack. I try to think of how it must have been, and put myself there, but I just can't. I don't think I even come close to realizing what is was like for you. So I just sit and read of your experiences in awe!