“Ahoy” you young Raiders

Well John, my Marine history may or may not be interesting to the group. I had more trouble getting into the Marine Corps than I had getting into the Raiders. I tried to get into Corps one day after my 17^th Birthday. The recruiters kicked me out and said they had a quota of 52, seventeen years old’s and that there quota were filled for seven months. They would not even take my name.

A friend of mine who was a saloon owner and I had a talk about me getting in the Corps. This man was a professional boxer in his younger years.

He got me in touch with Ben Ross whose brother was Barney Ross the fighter. Barney was in the Corps at that time. Barney Ross owned a saloon in downtown Chicago, like my friend and all the recruit station Marines drank at Barneys”s as the saloon was only a block away from the recruit station. Ben Ross took me personally up to the recruiting station and we were treated like heroes, since Ben had bought them a lot of drinks.

Ben took me up on Feb. 2, 1943 and on Feb. 4^th 1943 I was in the Corps and on my way to San Diego. I took my infantry training at Camp Elliot.

I hit things wrong –thru-no fault of mine. I was 17 yrs old on 1-8-43 on 2/4/43 I was in the Corps, and on 7/1/43 I was on my way overseas in the 22^nd replacement Bn. (I never had a 72 hr leave or a furlough in my time in the corps)

After arriving in New Caledonia, they asked me to volunteer for the Raiders. Those of us that wanted to volunteer were lined up in our shorts, and a group of Officers walked by and talked to each of us. If they wanted you in their Company, they sent you over to get a complete physical. It was my bad luck to be behind a real big guy in front of me and another real big guy behind me. They sent the big guy in front of me to go get a physical and they walked right past me (I was `5`6” and 135 at the time) and they talked to the big guy behind me. I said to the last guy with their group “How about me Sgt? “ Then they all heard me and came back and the Ist Lt., CO. C.O. Barnet who asked my name etc. and why I wanted to join the Raiders. I Blurted out that the guy in front of me owned me 5 bucks and if he got in the Raiders and I didn’t, I’d blow my five bucks. The LT. could hardly keep a straight face and told me to go get a physical. As they walked away one of the platoon leaders said at least he could think fast.

I landed at Puritan, Bouganville, Emiru, Guam, and Okinawa. I was wounded on Okinawa and still have shrapnel in my chest. (20% disability)

After a while on the hospital ship USS COMFORT, they took us back to Guam. After I got out of sick bay I was told I would be sent back to the states and since the war in Europe was over that Marines with over 50 points were being let out.

I had about 118 points and the Sgt. in charge of the casual area would not send me back to the states. So I went AWOL on a LST that was going back to Okinawa. After getting back to Okinawa it took me three days to find my outfit and report to company commander, 1^st LT. Daly and told him what I had done. At that time I was a Corporal and the Lt. made me a Sgt. on the spot and to go back to my platoon, and he would worry about the AWOL charge.

After Okinawa was secured we were sent back to the canal. I was called to headquarters and asked how come I was made Sgt. on Okinawa on such and such a date when I should have been sent back to the states after I was wounded? I said I don’t know except they broke us out at 2 a.m. and said to get into that truck and after a short ride they told us to get onto that LST and I did as I was told. I never heard another word about it.

Later we were sent to Japan and then home. When we were being mustered out at the Great Lakes Navel Base, they asked if I had been wounded. I did not want to get held up in processing so I said no. I didn’t know they were going to take x-rays and I almost filled my pants when they told us about x-rays had to be taken before discharge, knowing they would find the shrapnel.

About an hour or two, the Shore Patrol came for me and questioned me so they could file a report. After more x-rays and a good chewing out by the Doctor who was a Navy Commander said if I was not being discharged he would see that I lost a stripe for screwing up their report schedule. It turned out to be a break for me as they took me to the VA Rep. whom asked a lot of questions and filled out forms. When I was a civilian a few months later I received a check from the VA and at that time it was for 50% Disability. Later they knocked it down to 20%, which I still receive.

As to the rest of my story, I am married, have two kids, and two grandkids.

I never did finish high school, have worked as a mechanic, station owner and worked for Cadillac for about 25 years. I retired at 60 years of age. I do not own a computer. On 3/17/98 was our 47^th wedding anniversary.

Semper Fi

JOHN ABRAHAM JR