Soldier Story- Brandons

DEAN WINTERS, 2nd Raider Battalion


Shortly after the departure of the 1st Raider Battalion, the 2nd Raider Battalion disembarked at Aola Bay. Its task was pursuing three thousand hungry and exhausted Japanese soldiers retreating from the eastern side of the island to rejoin elements of the Japanese 17th Army on the western side of the Matanikau. The Raiders spent a month pursuing the Japanese on what was called the Long Patrol. [How did this mission end up?-John Fred 4/7/09 1:25 PM]

It seemed like it was raining all the time. We also had to cross many rivers. We had to climb a steep ridgeline dividing the Lunga and Tenaru valleys using ropes that we each carried and then linked together. We found an artillery piece that had been shelling Henderson Field. It was nicknamed "Pistol Pete." Several men took it apart and threw it over a cliff. [That could have been used in a museum -John Fred 4/7/09 1:15 PM] [True, it could have.... -Brittney 4/7/09 8:31 PM]
We came upon a Japanese field hospital and bivouac area. We killed a lot of Japs. We bayoneted and shot anything that was still moving. It was a series of grass huts. They were on the ground wounded. Several had broken legs. It didn't look like they had proper medical attention, because some were bent on a 45-degree angle. They weren't sticking straight out. We were back in Japanese territory and didn't want to make noise, so we used bayonets. I was pretty angry. We had a patrol, and they captured one of our men and tied him over a log and used him as a woman. They rammed a bayonet up his butt and he bled to death. That made me angry! So whenever I'd get into action, I'd get angry. I wasn't afraid when I was angry. We all felt that way after what we had seen.

After we left the area, we went up around Mount Austen. They ambushed us on the top. We had one man wounded. We carried him out; it was a long way down the mountain. We had jungle rot on our crotch and down our legs so bad that we had to stop every once in a while to empty the blood out of our shoes. It was painful. When you're in the field like that, you go, and you can't worry about pain.

The Raiders were a very special group. They're all volunteers. They were very select. We were interviewed by Evans Carlson or Jimmy Roosevelt. Roosevelt interviewed me and asked me if I was afraid to die. I said, "Anybody not afraid to die is a fool. But I would if it came to that.


[I would be scared too -John Fred] 4/7/09 1:33 PM I wouldn't hesitate. [I might hesitate a bit... -Brittney 4/7/09 8:32 PM]" He passed me.

Soldier Story- Brittney

Ira Gilliand recalls his night on the ridge.


It's tough to talk about this stuff. It's been fifty-eight years. It gives me the chills thinking about it.

They kept charging, but that's where the grenades came in. We threw grenades all night long. [It would be too long for me.-Brittney 4/7/09 5:52 AM] I remember rolling the grenades down. We were up on the hill and they were below us. They kept feeding us boxes of grenades. [I wouldn't be able to deal with that-John Fred 4/7/09 11:12 AM] I remember the sound of Plante's BAR. He kept it going all night long. A lot of guys spent a terrible night out there. [I couldn't do it all night. -Brittney 4/7/09 5:52 AM]

The 1st Parachute Battalion was with us. I remember one of the paratroopers got shot. The corpsman came over because of his cry for help, and he [the corpsman] got shot right through the heart. [That has to be traumatizing to the slodiers -John Fred 4/7/09 11:15 AM] His name was Smith, so when I saw Smith go down, I grabbed him and carried him down the hill. [I don't know if I'd do that where he just got shot. -Brittney 4/7/09 5:54 AM] I didn't think he was going to die. When I got him down to the first aid station, I saw one of our doctors cry. [chokes up] Old Smitty was my friend, a real nice guy, and I broke down also. [I would end up crying -John Fred 4/7/09 11:17 AM]

Book Portfolio #4

Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley and Ron Powers was a World War II book about 6 Marines, 3 of which never made it home. they endure terrible things but all the while learn that just because somethings tough, doesn't mean you should give up on it. If you give up on difficult tasks, how would you ever feel a sense of accomplishment?

You can't stop trying just because somethings difficult. John Bradley shot a Marine by mistake, but took responsibility for what he did, and carried him to safety. For his nobility, he earned the Navy Cross. 26,000 Americans were shot down defending land from the Japanese, even though they only lost 22,000 men. Then when John Bradley made it home, he told story's about how the true heroes didn't make it home. things were not easy and these people kept working and trying.

When your at war, you cant stop fighting because its tough, its war. Rome wasn't built in a day, and nothing can be done over night. You have to keep trying. If things just came to everyone, then no one would ever be satisfied.

If somethings tough, you've just got to keep trying. You can't give up, ever for anything. the World War II guys didnt give up, and you can't give up. Rome wasnt built in a day, nor will anything else ever be. No matter how many people, no matter how hard you try.